Beyoncé received her first Oscar nomination for the song “Be Alive,” written for King Richard.
“Be Alive” was written by Beyoncé and Dixson for the 2021 biographical sports drama King Richard. The film follows Richard Williams as he trains and guides his daughters Venus and Serena Williams toward professional tennis careers. Will Smith stars as Richard Williams, while the song plays over the film's end credits.
At the 94th Academy Awards, “Be Alive” was nominated for Best Original Song. The nomination marked Beyoncé's first Academy Award nomination. The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award and a Golden Globe Award, although it did not win the Oscar.
King Richard is different from Dreamgirls, in which Beyoncé acted as Deena Jones. “Be Alive” is also not the same song as “Spirit,” Beyoncé's Oscar-shortlisted contribution to The Lion King. The distinction matters because Beyoncé's acting, soundtrack, and songwriting credits span several separate film projects.