Oscars 2026: Watch Barbra Streisand sing 'The Way We Were' in Robert Redford tribute

16 March 2026, 10:12

Barbra Streisand reprises the 1972 classic in her co-star's memory.

The Academy Awards are always a ceremony packed with tension and emotion, but the most powerful moment every year often has nothing to do with winning or losing.

The In Memoriam segment frequently gets the tears flowing, and so it was last night (March 15) when Barbra Streisand paid especially poignant tribute to Robert Redford.

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Streisand and Redford featured in Sydney Pollack's 1973 classic The Way We Were and at the end of this year's memorial segment, she spoke passionately about her former co-star.

"He spoke up to defend the freedom of the press, protect the environment and encourage new voices," Streisand said.

Oscars 2026: Barbra Streisand pays tribute to Robert Redford

"I called him an intellectual cowboy who blazed his own trail."

Streisand also sang an excerpt from the title song of 'The Way We Were', which topped the US singles charts on its release in 1973.

Redford died last September at the age of 89, and Streisand was among those who swiftly shared their memories of the Hollywood icon.

"Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy," Streisand said.

"Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting – and one of the finest actors ever."