Dame Shirley Bassey to appear at Academy Awards
Dame Shirley Bassey, who recorded the theme songs for the James Bond films "Goldfinger," "Diamonds are Forever" and "Moonraker," will make her first appearance at the Academy Awards this month, the show's producers announced Friday.
"We are thrilled to welcome the legendary Dame Shirley Bassey to our Oscar show," said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. "Her association with film music is world renowned and we are proud that she will be making her first Oscar appearance on our telecast."
Bassey joins a list of previously-announced Oscar performers that includes Barbra Streisand, Adele and Norah Jones. Presenters are set to include "The Avengers" stars Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo; returning 2011 Oscar winners Jean Dujardin, Christopher Plummer, Octavia Spencer and Meryl Streep; co-stars Mark Wahlberg and Ted; and, special guest appearances including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron.
The 76-year-old Bassey has recorded more than 44 albums, sold more than 135 million records and has sang in concert halls around the world. Last June, she performed at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee concert in London.
The Academy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, Feb. 24, on ABC.