The 98th Academy Awards was a massive night for the film "Sinners," but for the Florida A&M University community, the real show-stopper happened during a live musical tribute that brought HBCU excellence to the 2026 Oscars. Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede, who has already made waves as the first female head drum major in the history of the legendary Marching “100,” made her Oscars debut at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre.

Oloyede was a standout during a stirring performance of “I Lied to You,” the breakout hit from the "Sinners" soundtrack performed by Miles Caton. Standing stage left with her drum major’s baton in hand, Oloyede brought the same sharp precision and high-energy presence that she displays on the turf at Bragg Memorial Stadium. The senior theater major was part of a dynamic, multi-character ensemble that celebrated the heritage and history behind the film, which went into the night with a record-setting 16 nominations.

It was a powerful moment of representation, as Oloyede executed her choreography alongside legendary ballerina Misty Copeland, who was performing center stage. While the film’s music filled the arena, Oloyede’s performance served as a direct nod to the deep-rooted traditions of HBCU marching band culture.