Oscars 2019: Adam Lambert 'killed it' with Queen tribute at Academy Awards opening

Adam Lambert performs onstage onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards. Photo / Getty

Adam Lambert and Queen kicked off Hollywood's biggest night with a rousing performance of We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions, receiving a standing ovation from Tinseltown's biggest stars this afternoon at the 91st Academy Awards.

The musical opening was in place of the usual opening monologue from a host, which the academy opted to forego this year after controversy surrounded their original choice, comedian Kevin Hart.

Instead, Queen opened proceedings before Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler presented the first award of the night, Best Supporting Actress.

Fans were quick to praise the opening, taking to social media declaring Adam Lambert and Queen had "killed it."

@adamlambert and @QueenWillRock killed it at #Oscars #Freddie would be pleased.

— JustaJerseyGirl (@RiannNJ) February 25, 2019

OMG!!! Were you blown away by @QueenWillRock and @adamlambert like we were??? What a way to open a show! #Oscars2019 pic.twitter.com/YNu5obwcPQ

— Dolby Theatre (@DolbyTheatre) February 25, 2019

As much as I love Adam Lambert and think he's very talented, he's not Freddie. Would have preferred them playing old videos of Freddie to this crap. #oscars2019

— Aksheeta (@iamaksheeta) February 25, 2019

The trio of comedians opened the night saying: "We are not your hosts. But we're going to stand here a little too long so that the people who get USA Today tomorrow will think that we hosted."

Rudolph went on to say: "There won't be a popular movie category, and Mexico is not paying for the wall," before they presented the first Oscar of the night, which saw Regina King take home Best Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk.

Follow all the action from the Academy Awards here.