Watch Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande’s ‘Wicked’ Oscars Performance

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande opened the 97th Academy Awards with a medley of songs from The Wizard Of Oz, The Wiz and Wicked. The pair co-starred in the Oscar-nominated film adaptation of Wicked.

The Jon M. Chu-directed Wicked earned 10 Oscar nominations, including Erivo for Best Actress and Grande for Best Supporting Actress, as well as Best Picture. The film won Best Costume Design for Paul Tazewell and Best Production Design for Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales.

Erivo and Grande’s performance began last night’s ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, which was emceed by first-time host Conan O’Brien. Grande began by singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” from the 1939 film starring Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz.

Erivo then sang lead on “Home” from the 1978 reimagined adaptation of The Wiz, starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Grande and Erivo then joined at center stage for an abbreviated arrangement of the Wicked centerpiece, “Defying Gravity,” featuring Erivo’s breathtaking vocal solo.

Erivo recently issued a single entitled “Replay,” which was her first new music since 2021. Additional new releases are expected this year.

Watch Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s memorable Oscars performance below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In-GXkhzFNM