Lady Gaga shows Kesha support prior to Oscars

Lady Gaga will be thinking of her pal Kesha as she hits the Oscars stage to perform a track from The Hunting Ground, about sex attacks on U.S. college campuses.

The Born This Way singer has been an outspoken advocate for her fellow pop star, who recently lost her bid to be released from her Sony Music recording contract with producer Dr. Luke. A judge ruled the singer could not terminate the contract she signed a decade ago, despite the fact she's suing the hitmaker, claiming he sexually and emotionally abused her.

Since that ruling on 19 February (16), Kesha has garnered the support of fans and celebrities, including Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway, Adele, Taylor Swift and Gaga, who has been taking to social media since the judge's decision in support of the #FreeKesha movement.

On Sunday (28Feb16), Gaga took to Twitter again to send a message to her friend, hours before performing at the Academy Awards.

"@kesharose I'll be thinking of u 2nite (sic)," she wrote. "This is not over we'll stand by u until you are free to live a HAPPY life. Everyone deserves that."

Gaga and singer/songwriter Diane Warren are up for Best Original Song at the prizegiving for Til It Happens to You from The Hunting Ground documentary.

The duo will compete against Sam Smith, The Weeknd, Antony Hegarty & J. Ralph, and David Lang & Sumi Jo at the 2016 Academy Awards.