Daveed Diggs Discusses Emmy-Nominated Song and Iconic Death Scene in The Boys

Daveed Diggs earned an Emmy nomination alongside Christopher Lennertz for the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category thanks to the song “Raise Him Up,” which his character Oh Father sings in the fifth season of The Boys. Diggs revealed that Eric Kripke approached him with the idea of a musical number, a departure from his usual stance, and he agreed after a brief period of consideration. The songwriting was conducted remotely, with initial ideas leaning toward rap before evolving into the final gospel piece that impressed the showrunner.

Production involved intensive rehearsals, a single day of dance practice and two days of shooting, during which the cast and crew treated the set like a live jam session. The episode’s climax featured a ball gag stunt that resulted in Oh Father’s death, a moment Diggs found both surprising and satisfying. He praised the choreography, the choir’s involvement, and the overall satirical tone of the song, hoping it would resonate with fans as a catchy critique of religious and political manipulation.