Please be prepared to have “Defying Gravity” stuck in your head for several more months (you will never be free), because Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande just performed at the 2025 Oscars.
Ariana opened the show with a stunning rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” with her look paying homage to Dorothy’s sparkling ruby slippers.
Cynthia then took the stage to sing Diana Ross’s “Home” from The Wiz before joining forces with Ari to sing “Defying Gravity.”
Both Ariana and Cynthia are up for Oscars tonight: Ari is nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category (alongside Monica Barbaro, Felicity Jones, Isabella Rossellini, and Zoe Saldaña) and Cynthia is nominated in the Best Actress category (alongside Karla Sofia Gascón, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, and Fernanda Torres).
The singers also shouted each other out in their Oscar nom reactions, with Ari saying, “I am so proud of my Elphie, my sister, my dear @cynthiaerivo. your brilliance is never ending and you deserve every flower (tulip) in every garden. i love you unconditionally, always.” Meanwhile, Cynthia wrote, “To my sister, @arianagrande, what a joy it is to be here with you watching as you ascend and amaze and become the actress you were meant to be. Congratulations first time nominee, I’m so so proud of you!! There is no one in the world I would have wanted to do this with more than you.”
