Singer-songwriter sat inside his Fort Worth home the morning of Jan. 23 as he watched the 2025 Academy Award nominations slowly roll out live. His heart raced with anticipation.
The nominations for Original Screenplay popped on the screen, with nominations for Actress in a Supporting Role following shortly after. Nothing yet, he thought to himself.
After a five-minute intermission, the presenters returned with the nominees for .
Alexander broke down with tears of joy as his song 鈥淟ike a Bird鈥�&苍产蝉辫;鈥�&苍产蝉辫;a collaboration with Laredo native Adrian Quesada for the prison drama 鈥溾��&苍产蝉辫;鈥�&苍产蝉辫;was nominated.
鈥淚t was such a surreal moment,鈥� Alexander recalled. 鈥淭o be recognized by the Academy for being part of that movie is an honor. I鈥檝e had anxiety, nerves, but at the end of it, to actually see it come to fruition is amazing.鈥�
The soulful ballad, sung by Alexander, is featured in the end credits of the acclaimed film, which tells the story of incarcerated men who find purpose by acting in a theater group inside the infamous New York prison.
What other tunes are nominated for Best Original Song?
鈥淓l Mal鈥� from 鈥淓milia P茅rez鈥�
鈥淭he Journey鈥� from 鈥淭he Six Triple Eight鈥�
鈥淢i Camino鈥� from 鈥淓milia P茅rez鈥�
鈥淣ever Too Late鈥� from 鈥淓lton John: Never Too Late鈥�
Director Greg Kwedar, a Fort Worth native now based in Austin, was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. He is in the running for the award against writers of the films 鈥淎 Complete Unknown,鈥� 鈥淐onclave,鈥� 鈥淓milia P茅rez鈥� and 鈥淣ickel Boys.鈥�
鈥淲e are proud to congratulate Fort Worth native Greg Kwedar on his Best Adapted Screenplay nomination,鈥� Taylor Hardy, film commissioner and director of video content at Visit Fort Worth, said in a statement. 鈥淭his achievement recognizes his incredible talent and dedication and serves as inspiration to local filmmakers. 鈥�
Chad Mathews, executive director of Fort Worth-based Lone Star Film Festival, is 鈥渁bsolutely thrilled鈥� to celebrate Alexander鈥檚 and Kwedar鈥檚 nominations. The festival screened 鈥淪ing Sing鈥� during its .
鈥淪eeing a hometown artist like Abraham gain worldwide recognition fills us with pride, and we wish him and Adrian (Quesada) the very best as they continue to inspire audiences everywhere,鈥� he said in a statement.
For Alexander, the recognition is not only a special career milestone, but also a celebration of Fort Worth.
鈥淚 get to just be part of this community, part of this art scene and shed light on the art that鈥檚 happening here,鈥� he told the Report. 鈥淚t just shows that the city is moving forward in different facets of art and creativity. To be able to knock down a door so that the next person behind me can walk through is a blessing.鈥�
Fort Worth artist elevates his voice
Alexander was born and raised in Greece to Nigerian parents. He relocated to Texas at the age of 11, and after losing his mother in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, he was adopted in his teens by a foster family.
After sustaining a soccer injury while attending Texas Wesleyan University, Alexander by watching YouTube videos. Around 2014, he was given the opportunity to help with for Fort Worth artist Leon Bridges鈥� debut record 鈥淐oming Home.鈥� That album would later earn a Best R&B Album Grammy nomination.
Alexander secured a spot as an opener on for his third album, 鈥淕old-Diggers Sound.鈥� Through those experiences, Alexander , he grew as a guitar player, singer and songwriter.
Alexander released his debut album 鈥淪ea/Sons鈥� in April 2023 with the backing of Dualtone Records. The album melted together folk, soul and gospel 鈥� genres of music the singer attributed to his family and childhood.
When the time came to collaborate with Quesada for 鈥淟ike a Bird,鈥� the Fort Worth songwriter told 四虎影院 that the song wrote itself to capture 鈥渢he essence of what it鈥檚 like for us not to see the humanity within people that are incarcerated.鈥�
鈥淎nd I was thinking that this certain group of people are now (seen as) B class citizens 鈥� it just struck this chord and the imagery of a bird came to mind,鈥� he told 四虎影院.
Karen Cantrell, a spokesperson for Texas Wesleyan, said the university is proud to see one of their alumni break barriers and inspire others.
鈥淎braham鈥檚 journey from our halls to the global stage is an inspiration to all, showing that with hard work and perseverance, remarkable things are possible,鈥� she said in a statement.
Tom Martens, vice president of creative, film and music at Visit Fort Worth, told the Report that Alexander鈥檚 accomplishment helps bring Fort Worth music to the forefront.
鈥淎braham has been an ambassador for Fort Worth since 2017 and has represented the city around the country and the UK,鈥� he said in a statement. 鈥淭his nomination elevates Abraham鈥檚 reputation and uplifts Fort Worth as a city for film and music talent.鈥�
Alexander doesn鈥檛 know what follows in his career 鈥� and he doesn鈥檛 care to know. He wants to be surprised and 鈥渘ot dictate what happens next.鈥�
The Fort Worth musician plans to continue spreading the word about the prison drama film and complete his sophomore album.
鈥淚 want to have an open hand, because that鈥檚 when things can be placed. If you hold things with a closed fist, that removes the opportunity for blessing,鈥� Alexander said.
The Academy Awards will air live on ABC March 2.
Editor鈥檚 note: This story was updated at 4:13 p.m. Jan. 23 with a statement from Texas Wesleyan University.
David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or .
Disclosure: Texas Wesleyan University has been a of the Fort Worth Report. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy .
This first appeared on and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.