Ryan Gosling Brings Fun and Electric 'Kenergy' to Oscars 2024 Rehearsal: ‘Spirits Were High’
The Best Supporting Actor nominee is set to perform "I'm Just Ken" at the 96th Academy Awards, airing Sunday at 7 p.m. EST on ABC
When Ryan Gosling took the stage to rehearse the Oscar-nominated Barbie song "I’m Just Ken" on Friday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the mood turned electric.
In other words: the Kenergy was very high.
"Ryan was in great spirits, and he was a total pro," a source tells PEOPLE of the upbeat rehearsal two days ahead of the Oscars, which airs on ABC at 7 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 10. "He was joking around and having a great time."
Related: Ryan Gosling Is Set to Perform Barbie Song 'I'm Just Ken' at 2024 Oscars
Dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, Gosling, 43, showed no signs of nerves as he and Mark Ronson, who is nominated for Best Original Song for co-writing the hit Barbie tune, worked on the much-anticipated musical number. "Ryan was relaxed, his spirits were high, and everyone was having fun," says the source.
While details of the performance remain under wraps, an insider says it will involve "many dancers."
Gosling, who earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for playing Ken in Barbie, opposite Margot Robbie, is just one high-wattage star set to take the stage on Sunday.
The Original Song nominees to be performed are: "The Fire Inside" from Flamin’ Hot (performed by Becky G, music and lyric by Diane Warren), "It Never Went Away" from American Symphony (performed by Jon Batiste, music and lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson), "Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)" from Killers of the Flower Moon (performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers, music and lyric by Scott George) and "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie (performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell).
Gosling has been enjoying the walk-up to the Oscars, even appearing with his Barbie co-stars America Ferrera and Kate McKinnon in a hilarious Oscars 2024 TV promo. Also teasing the March 10 show in the promo is Jimmy Kimmel, who is returning as host for the fourth time.
For his part, Kimmel recently told PEOPLE that he and the rest of the well-oiled creative team is doing their part to put together a memorable night.
"We work very hard to make the show as good as it possibly can be," he said. "I feel like the Kansas City Chiefs going into this Oscars. … Like you’ve been there before, but it doesn’t make a difference — It’s still exciting and you still have to do well!"
The 96th Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, March 10, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
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Read the original article on People.