“You know it’s hard out here for a pimp!”

This was the hook that was chanted throughout the Kodak Theatre as Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia performed their Oscar winning song “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp” from the “Hustle and Flow” soundtrack.

Oscar night was a great night for the Volunteer State as Nashville native Resse Witherspoon brought home the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal as country legend June Carter Cash in the Johnny Cash film “Walk the Line”. Also, local Memphis legends Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard, who make up Three 6 Mafia, captured the award for Best Original Song.

Starring in such movies as “Jack the Bear”, “Freeway”, the “Legally Blonde” series and “Pleasantville,” Witherspoon is no stranger to the big screen. At age 14, she landed her first acting job in Robert Mulligan’s “The Man in the Moon”. After graduating from Nashville’s all-girl Harpeth Hall in 1994, she enrolled in to Stanford University, where she majored in English literature. Witherspoon’s collegiate career came to an abrupt halt as she landed roles in “Freeway” and “Fear”. Though neither proved to be a box office smash, Resse Witherspoon was a name that people began to take notice of. As the years passed, her roles became bigger and more frequent.

Her big break came in 2001 when she took the lead role in the comedy “Legally Blonde”, which sky-rockted her name into mainstream media. After starring in other movies such as the sequel to “Legally Blonde” and “Sweet Home Alabama”, Witherspoon’s name was thrown into the lot to play the role of June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line’”, which lead her to an Oscar.

Sometimes boycotted for their “satanic” name and obscene lyrics, Three 6 Mafia has been under constant ridicule. But at the Oscars the Memphis natives put all critics to shame as they became the first African-American rap group to win an Oscar. After accepting their Academy Award for Best Original Song, Three 6 Mafia performed a revison of “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp”.

Known throughout the south, Three 6 Mafia is a rap group that has been on the scene for over a decade, with recent collaborations with Ludacris, Lil’ John and 8-Ball and are finally getting recognition from all over the world. After their last album Most Known Unknown, Three 6 Mafia is a name that will soon be heard all over the world.

Other winners of the prestigious awards included “Crash”, which beat out favored “Brokeback Mountain” to take the Best Picture award. Phillip Seymour took home the Best Actor award for his portrayal as Truman Capote in the film “Capote”, which was also a Best Picture nominee. He beat out both Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”) and Joaquin Phoenix (“Walk the Line”) for the award.

Fan favorite “March of the Penguins” took home the Best Documentary Feature award, and “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” beat out Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” for best Animated Feature Film.

Rachel Weisz snagged the Best Supportng Actress award for her role in the “Constant Gardner”, with George Clooney taking home a Best Supportng Actor award for “Syriana”.

Many people considered the 78th Academy Awards an upset, with many top picks losing out. “Brokeback Mountain”, which was up for eight, only won three, but did take home the Best Director Award. “Good Night, and Good Luck”, which garnered six nominations, took home none at all.

For more information and a complete lst of winners, go to http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/nominees/