Barbra Streisand pays a vibrant singing tribute to Robert Redford at the 2026 Oscars

50 years ago, they starred in Our Most Beautiful Years. To honor the memory of the late actor, the ’83 star performed “The Way We Were” on the Oscars stage last night.

Moment of great emotion last night on the stage of the 2026 Oscars.

Barbra Streisand brought the whole room to its feet by concluding a vibrant tribute to Robert Redford by performing a piece of The Way We Werethe cult song from the film Our best years (1973) in which the two stars played opposite each other.

The actress, singer and director, who will soon be honored at Cannes, first delivered a speech of just over three minutes to greet her former on-screen partner in Sydney Pollack’s romantic drama. She spoke about the still current resonance of the film, but also the personality of Robert Redford. “After reading the first script for Our Most Beautiful Years, I could only imagine one man in this role: Robert Redford”said Barbra Streisand. But the actor initially refused, believing that the character “had no backbone. Ehe was right”she added. After several rewrites, he finally accepted the role.

The actress also praised Redford’s talent and commitment, recalling that he had defended press freedom, environmental protection and encouraged new generations of filmmakers through the Sundance Institute. “I called him an intellectual cowboy who blazed his own trail…”

She then shared a more intimate memory: their telephone conversations on politics, art or their common passions. “One day, before hanging up, he said to me: ‘Babs, I love you deeply and I always will.’ In the last letter she wrote to him, Streisand says she concluded with “I love you too”. Signed, this time, “Babs”.

After this testimony, the music legend intoned The Way We Were – Oscar for best original song in 1974 – offering a rare performance lasting around forty seconds. A particularly notable appearance since Barbra Streisand has in fact withdrawn from concerts since the end of her tour The Music…The Mem’ries…The Magic! in 2017, having only given a few additional dates in 2019.

Robert Redford died last September at the age of 89.