Irish music stars have made it to the Oscar shortlist stage

With 'Belfast' among the front-runners for this year's Oscars, Irish interest in the awards show has heated up, and now we have even more vested interest in the awards race.

Van Morrison is on track for an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song with his contribution to the new Kenneth Branagh film 'Belfast' making the Oscar shortlist for Best Original Song.

The song, entitled 'Down To Joy', already has a Golden Globe nomination under its belt which bodes well for its Oscar hopes, with 'Belfast' poised to receive nominations in Best Picture and Best Director.

Irish audiences will be able to see 'Belfast' on January 21st.

U2 could also receive their 3rd Oscar nomination as their song 'Your Song Saved My Life' from the upcoming 'Sing 2' also made the shortlist for Best Original Song.

The Dublin band were previously nominated in 2003 for 'The Hands That Built America' for Martin Scorsese's film 'Gangs Of New York' losing to 'Lose Yourself' by Eminem on that occasion, and received a nomination in 2014 for 'Ordinary Love' for the Nelson Mandela biopic 'Long Walk To Freedom', losing to 'Let It Go' from Frozen'.

Some of pop music's biggest names have also made the Best Original Song shortlist with Billie Eilish's theme for 'No Time To Die' making the shortlist, Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi's song for 'Don't Look Up' in the mix, and Beyonce's track for 'King Richard' entitled 'Be Alive' also making the 15-song shortlist.

'Annette' is continuing its unlikely run to the Oscars, with the deeply unorthodox Leos Carax musical featuring songs by cult pop icons Sparks finding a way onto the shortlist for the film opening song 'So May We Start'.

H.E.R. was the winner in the category last year for her song 'Fight For You' from the film 'Judas And The Black Messiah', with the R&B star also making the shortlist with her song 'Automatic Woman' from Halle Berry's directorial debut 'Bruised' making the cut.

Beach Boys icon Brian Wilson is also in the mix for an Oscar nomination with a song from his documentary 'Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road' making the shortlist.

The Oscar nominations for 2021 will be announced on February 8th with the ceremony itself taking place on March 27th.