What 2013 documentary about backup singers won the Oscar?

The 2013 documentary about backup singers that won the Oscar is 20 Feet from Stardom. Directed by Morgan Neville, the film examines the careers and experiences of singers who supplied the harmonies and vocal power behind major recording artists and live performers.

The documentary features singers including Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, Claudia Lennear, and Tata Vega. Through interviews and archival footage, it shows how these artists shaped famous songs while often remaining outside the spotlight. Producer Gil Friesen’s interest in the lives of background singers helped inspire the project.

20 Feet from Stardom won Best Documentary Feature at the 86th Academy Awards, held in 2014 for films released in 2013. It is sometimes confused with music documentaries such as The Wrecking Crew or Muscle Shoals, but those films focus on different parts of music history. The film later entered the U.S. National Film Registry in 2023 for its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.