Goldie Hawn Steals Spotlight from Oscar-Nominated Daughter Kate Hudson at 2026 Academy Awards
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles witnessed a remarkable family moment as Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn, aged 70, upstaged her own daughter, Best Actress nominee Kate Hudson, with a breathtaking red carpet entrance. The iconic mother-daughter duo arrived together at the Dolby Theatre, where Hawn dazzled in a plunging black gown that threatened to eclipse her daughter's moment in the spotlight.
A Glamorous Red Carpet Arrival
Dripping in sparkles and elegance, Goldie Hawn looked absolutely stunning as she made her grand arrival wearing a Grayseful by Maria Lopez dress. The stunning ensemble featured a daring plunging neckline, a sheer top, sophisticated silver accents, and elegant long gloves that accentuated her timeless beauty. Meanwhile, Kate Hudson, aged 46, who received a coveted Best Actress nomination for her performance in last year's film Song Sung Blue, absolutely ravished in a metallic gown with a cinched waist and a glamorous choker necklace.
Hollywood legend Hawn attended the ceremony with her longtime partner Kurt Russell, both present to support Hudson ahead of the show. Proud Russell stood on the sidelines of the red carpet, allowing the leading ladies in his life their moment in the sun as he captured photos of the glamorous festivities. The 96th Academy Awards celebrated the best films of 2025, with the glitzy ceremony taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Record-Breaking Nominations and Competitive Categories
Ryan Coogler's horror flick Sinners leads the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations, the most for any film in Academy Awards history. The film is one of the ten contenders for Best Picture alongside Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams.
The Best Actor race is currently a dead heat, with Sinners star Michael B. Jordan facing stiff competition from fellow nominees Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent). While Chalamet dominated the early awards season with wins at the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards, momentum shifted after Jordan's victory at the Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards.
Best Actress Showdown and Notable Snubs
Irish star Jessie Buckley emerges as the frontrunner in the Best Actress category for her work in Hamnet, facing a star-studded field that includes Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I Would Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia). Helmed by 2021's Best Director winner Chloe Zhao, Hamnet explores the reimagined story of William Shakespeare's home life and how the death of his 11-year-old son provided the emotional blueprint for his masterpiece, Hamlet.
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another earned 13 nominations, including Best Director, Best Actor for DiCaprio, and Supporting Actor nods for Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn. The black comedy action-thriller follows a washed-up ex-revolutionary forced to rescue his daughter from his former nemesis.
Notable snubs included Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) from the Best Supporting Actor category, while Ariana Grande was overlooked for Wicked: For Good despite her nomination last year. Gwyneth Paltrow also missed out on a Supporting Actress nomination for Marty Supreme.
New Award Category and Ceremony Details
A new award for Best Casting was introduced this year, with inaugural nominees including Nina Gold for Hamnet, Jennifer Venditti for Marty Supreme, Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another, Gabriel Domingues for The Secret Agent, and Francine Maisler for Sinners. The ceremony, hosted for a second consecutive year by Conan O'Brien, aired live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV.
As the entertainment world watched, the glamorous mother-daughter duo of Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson soaked up the spotlight, with Hawn's stunning fashion choice ensuring she remained the center of attention despite her daughter's prestigious nomination.
