Barbra Streisand Honors Robert Redford at 2026 Oscars

Barbra Streisand Brings the Oscars to Tears with Robert Redford Tribute

The icon performed "The Way We Were" at the 98th Academy Awards to honor her late co-star and "intellectual cowboy" Robert Redford.

Ryan Kowalski

Mar 18, 2026, 1:09 PM PT · 1 min read

THE RUNDOWN

Barbra Streisand honored Robert Redford at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15.
Streisand performed their 1973 hit song "The Way We Were" during the segment.
Robert Redford passed away in September 2025 at the age of 89.
Streisand affectionately called her former co-star an "intellectual cowboy" during the tribute.
The emotional moment took place during the ceremony's annual "In Memoriam" sequence.

The 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, 2026, saw a legendary reunion of spirits as Barbra Streisand took the stage for a deeply personal tribute. During the ceremony's "In Memoriam" segment, Streisand honored her longtime friend and former co-star Robert Redford. Redford, a cinema icon and founder of the Sundance Institute, passed away in September 2025 at the age of 89.

Streisand delivered a moving rendition of "The Way We Were," the title song from their classic 1973 romantic drama. The audience at the Dolby Theatre remained pin-drop silent as she sang a portion of the Academy Award-winning track. Before her performance, she shared heartfelt anecdotes about their time working together, celebrating their enduring professional and personal bond.

In a quote that resonated across social media, Streisand described Redford as an "intellectual cowboy" who transformed the landscape of American film. She highlighted not only his screen presence but his dedication to independent storytelling and his character off-camera. The performance served as the emotional centerpiece of the night's memorial segment.