Oscars 2025: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Kick Off the Biggest Night in Hollywood With Classic Renditions and Some ‘Wicked’ Magic

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The 97th Academy Awards are happening at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and two well-known actresses, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, kicked off the evening as they took the stage on Sunday, March 2. They performed a medley inspired by The Wizard of Oz from Jon M. Chu’s upcoming musical. Ariana Grande entered first in a stunning ruby red dress, followed by Cynthia Erivo wearing a white gown decorated with colorful blooms. Not only did they honor their Best Picture-nominated film, but also acknowledged the legacy of Wicked, which started back in 1939.

Initially, Grande sang “Over the Rainbow,” a well-known tune from the 20th-century Tinseltown classic, and then moved aside to let Erivo take center stage. Continuing the act, Erivo performed “Home” which was originally sung in the 1978 film The Wiz.

As a finale to their opening number, the duo sang “Defying Gravity.” When Erivo reached the last note, the spectators packed with stars burst into applause. Michelle Yeoh, who portrayed Madame Morrible in Wicked, could be spotted with tears in her eyes.

For those who may not be aware, two actresses who are both singers are up for awards tonight – one in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role, and the other in the Best Actress category. The movie they starred in is nominated in several categories: Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, Original Score, Visual Effects, as well as being a contender for the prestigious award, Best Picture.

The sequel to “Wicked,” titled “Wicked: For Good,” is scheduled for release in November 2025. Tonight’s show could be seen as a precursor or kick-off event for the upcoming promotional campaign for the movie.

Originally known as “Wicked: Part Two”, this upcoming movie continues after a time jump. In this phase, Ariana Grande portrays Glinda the Good Witch of the North, fully settled into her role, while Cynthia Erivo embodies Elphaba during her tenure as the Wicked Witch of the West. Additionally, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Jeff Goldblum, and Yeoh are all set to reprise their roles.

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2025-03-03 04:07