The film's star, Emily Blunt, opted not to perform the Best Original Song nominee during the telecast.
Well, this was practically perfect in every way.
With Mary Poppins Returns star Emily Blunt sadly opting out of performing the film's Best Original Song nominee during the 91st Academy Awards ceremony, Bette Midler stepped in as the special guest and delivered a magical rendition of "The Place Where Lost Things Go."
Keegan-Michael Key kicked things off by descending from the ceiling in dramatic fashion -- with an umbrella, natch -- before introducing the Divine Miss M.
Midler previously announced that she would be performing the number on Twitter, writing, "So, (drum roll) Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be chanteusing (that's singing) on the Oscars on Feb 24...the nominated song from "Mary Poppins"..."The Place Where Lost Things Go" ...so excited!!"
The musical legend is a two-time Oscar nominee herself, previously nominated for Best Actress for The Rose in 1980 and For the Boys in 1992. (In fact, the O is the only honor missing from Midler's inevitable EGOT.)
Mary Poppins Returns, meanwhile, was nominated for four Oscars in total this year, for Best Original Song as well as Original Score, Costume Design and Production Design.
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