Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the 2025 Oscars with a performance that had the whole room buzzing. The two powerhouse singers put on a mash-up of some of the most iconic songs tied to The Wizard of Oz — and yeah, it was a big deal.
They opened the Oscars with a stunning mash-up
On Sunday night, the duo hit the stage and took on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Home,” and “Defying Gravity.” Three huge songs, one unforgettable performance. The crowd? Absolutely hooked!
Their performance was met with excitement and praise
This whole thing wasn’t just for show — Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, scored 10 Oscar nominations, including best picture, best sound, and best visual effects. So yeah, people are taking it seriously.
They ditched their signature ‘Wicked’ looks for glamorous new outfits
For the big moment, both stars stepped out of their Wicked characters — literally. No green skin for Erivo, no pink for Grande. Instead, Ariana went full glam in a sparkling red Schiaparelli dress, while Cynthia looked stunning in a one-shoulder white gown with floral appliques. A total style reset.
Ariana Grande is up for best supporting actress
Erivo and Grande aren’t just singing their way through awards season — they’re both nominated. Cynthia’s in the running for best actress, while Ariana’s up for best supporting actress. They’ve got some serious competition too — Monica Barbaro, Felicity Jones, Isabella Rossellini, and Zoe Saldaña are all in the mix.
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Grande shared her emotional reaction to her nomination
Back in January, when she found out about her nomination, Ariana kept things low-key. She was in London with her boyfriend, Ethan Slater, and he posted a sweet shot of her just staring out the window, surrounded by pink balloons.
Later, she shared the photo herself — along with an adorable throwback of her as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.
“Picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition,” she wrote. “I cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise.”
Cynthia Erivo is nominated for best actress
Cynthia also took to social media after the nominations dropped, sharing behind-the-scenes photos from the Wicked set. She’s up against some major names — Karla Sofía Gascón, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, and Fernanda Torres.
Erivo expressed gratitude for the recognition
“Moments like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, it is sacrilege to let them pass by without a moment of gratitude,” she wrote.
“I am grateful, grateful to @theacademy, grateful to be a part of something that makes people feel seen … grateful to have experienced a dream come true, and deeply, deeply grateful for this unbelievable recognition.”
