LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The comedies Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel are heading into Sunday's Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles with a matching lead nine nominations apiece.
Winners will be announced in a telecast hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and scheduled to air on ABC. Musical performances will include Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Anna Kendrick, Tim McGraw, Jack Black, Adam Levine, Common and John Legend. Among the scores of A-list stars who will serve as presenters throughout the evening will be last year's prize winners Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey and Lupita N'yongo.