Josh Groban Serenades Conan O’Brien and Performs ‘Zadok the Priest’ Arrangement at the Oscars
At the Oscars on March 15, 2026, josh groban joined the ceremony’s opening monologue to serenade host Conan O’Brien in a coronation sketch and to perform an arrangement of Händel’s “Zadok the Priest. ” The cameo blended parody and classical music in the show’s early sequence.
Josh Groban Serenades Conan During Coronation Sketch
The sketch began with Conan O’Brien reflecting on how many winners share their glory with colleagues and family before imagining a less modest version of himself as an Oscar winner. In the dream sequence, the host is revealed as the winner for a fictional Best Achievement prize, draped in a velvet robe and crown and blessed by a cardinal. josh groban then took the stage to serenade the coronated figure, singing lines that included: “His Oscar win has been fated by God/ He did this himself, and he’s grateful to none/ Even the haters can’t hate number one. “
The comic flourish continued when Conan summoned a falcon named Cicero to deliver a statuette from the sky, a bit he promised would be the way all Oscars were handed out that night. The sequence was presented as part of the show’s opening monologue; this marks Conan’s second year hosting the Academy Awards, following his debut last year.
Zadok the Priest Arrangement With the Los Angeles Master Chorale
The music at the center of the sketch was an arrangement of Händel’s “Zadok the Priest, ” performed with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. “Zadok the Priest” was composed for the coronation of George II in 1727 and is one of Händel’s coronation anthems, a fitting choice for the parody of royal pomp.
The performance also highlighted the presence of classical music at the ceremony more broadly. Classical representation at the Oscars this year included Ana Maria Martinez, who appears on the song “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from “Viva Verdi, ” which is nominated for Best Original Song, and soprano Sonya Yoncheva, who attended alongside her husband, conductor Domingo Hindyan.
The coronation sketch and the Händel arrangement combined comedy and classical pageantry in the show’s opening moments, positioning the musical cameo as a memorable part of the night’s early entertainment.
