Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the Oscars ceremony with a high-energy performance of “Defying Gravity” from their film ‘Wicked’. The duo also paid tribute to classic films like ‘The Wizard of Oz’, performing iconic songs including “Over the Rainbow” and “Home”. This marks one of their first live performances together, despite their close collaboration on the promotional tour. Both Grande and Erivo received Oscar nominations for their roles in ‘Wicked’, which has 10 nominations in total.
Although ‘Wicked’ is not a front-runner for Best Picture, it is the highest-grossing nominee at the box office, beating out fellow contender “Dune: Part Two”. The film’s success can be attributed to its merchandise and viral moments. Grande and Erivo’s appearance on the telecast is also seen as a hint at their potential return next year, with ‘Wicked: For Good’ sequel set to release in November.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/movies/ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-wicked-performance.html