RAYE Explains Why Covering Adele at the 2025 Oscars Was ‘Terrifying’

You wouldn’t have been able to tell from watching RAYE‘s performance at the 2025 Oscars Sunday (March 2) — during which she absolutely nailed Adele‘s “Skyfall” as part of the night’s James Bond tribute — but the British star was actually quite nervous.

And during a post-show interview with Entertainment Tonight, RAYE explained why paying homage to the “Rolling in the Deep” vocalist was particularly “terrifying.” “No one can sing Adele like Adele,” she said. “It’s scary.”

The “Escapism” artist added, “It was terrifying, but also so incredible at the same time.”

RAYE closed out the Bond medley by taking the stage shrouded in fog, showing off her powerful vocals on Adele’s original theme for the franchise’s 2012 film, Skyfall. The track reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won best original song at the Oscars in 2013.

Before RAYE took the stage, The Substance actress Margaret Qualley performed a slinky dance number with a troupe of tuxedoed men — about which the former told ET, “She ate that up … Multi-talented and fine as hell, Jack [Antonoff] is a very lucky man.”

After Qualley’s number, RAYE’s “Born Again” collaborators LISA and Doja Cat each performed solo renditions of two other famous Bond themes, with the BLACKPINK star delivering both choreography and vocals on Wings’ “Live and Let Die” before the “Paint the Town Red” rapper commanded the spotlight singing Shirley Bassey’s “Diamonds Are Forever.” After RAYE closed out the 007 tribute, the trio came together on stage to receive the applause together. 

“We have such a beautiful chemistry together,” RAYE said of LISA and Doja. “I just love those girls, they’re so kind and hardworking and inspiring.”

The Academy Awards come a few weeks after the 2025 Grammys, where the “Oscar Winning Tears” vocalist performed in a best new artist medley alongside fellow nominees Doechii, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Shaboozey; winner Chappell Roan performed elsewhere in the evening. She was also up for songwriter of the year, which ended up going to Amy Allen. 

One day prior to the Oscars, RAYE won best R&B act at the 2025 BRIT Awards.