Oscars 2025: Mick Jagger’s Surprise Appearance Was Pure Satisfaction

Count the audience at the 2025 Oscars among those who took great satisfaction in seeing Mick Jagger onstage.

Especially since he wasn’t on the evening’s program!

Instead, the 81-year-old Rolling Stones frontman surprised the crowd with his appearance to present Best Original Song. Not, presumably, because he was a last-minute replacement for that other guy, but because some living legends are better left to provide unexpected delights.

With the strains of “Sympathy for the Devil” preceding him, Jagger was announced to great fanfare, the obviously jazzed crowd rising to their feet as he preened and peacocked accordingly. (Even Elton John gave husband David Furnish a wide-eyed OMG look as they joined in the appreciation.)

“You’re so kind, thank you so much,” Jagger said, hand to heart. “Thank you so much, everyone. Very kind of you, my goodness.”

Then it was back to the business of presenting. “I’m very honored to be invited to give this award for the Best Original Song tonight. As much as I love doing it, I wasn’t the first choice to give this award out. The producers really wanted Bob Dylan to do this.” (See the whole list of 2025 Oscar winners.)