In 2006 Oscars Best Song Win Pulled Off an Unforgettable Upset

The 2006 Oscars featured three very different Best Song nominees, and one pulled off an unforgettable, shocking win.

The 78th Academy Awards highlighted the Best Song category with nominees that represented a trio of distinct musical styles. In a surprising turn, the award went to a song that defied expectations and caught audiences off guard.

Oscar-nominated songs are historically heartfelt ballads, soaring pop hits, or showstoppers from musicals. They are typically woven into their film and usually appear during the movie’s big emotional moments or over the closing credits.

In 2006, nominations included Three 6 Mafia‘s “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow, “In the Deep” from Crash (Kathleen York and Michael Becker), and “Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica (Dolly Parton). One song was a classic rap tune, another a ballad, and the third was a country standard.

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Queen Latifah announced the Best Song Oscar. Latifah previously received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Matron “Mama” Morton in the musical film Chicago three years prior, in 2003.

“It is hard out here for a pimp,” Latifah began. “Now that might seem like an unusual choice for an Academy Award nominated song, but critics also forgot ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and ‘Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.'”

She continued, “Tonight, one of these nominees joins the roll call of Best Original Song.” Latifah then announced the trio of nominated tunes.

The female rap legend then revealed the winner, singing, “It’s hard out here for a pimp.” The song was from the soundtrack of the film Hustle & Flow, starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

The stunning win was the second time a rap song was nominated for, and won, the coveted award. Three years prior, in 2003, Eminem won the first Academy Award by a rap artist for “Lose Yourself” from the film 8 Mile.

Following their Oscar win, Three 6 Mafia appeared on The Ellen Show. Ellen DeGeneres told  Jordan Houston (Juicy J), Paul Beauregard (DJ Paul), and Cedric Coleman (Frayser Boy). “Everyone was thinking Dolly Parton was going to win. Was it a total surprise?”

The group responded, “Yes it was a total surprise. We thought we were gonna lose.”

The 2006 Best Song upset has become a legendary moment in Oscars history. It shows that awards season can deliver surprises that keep fans talking for years.