Experience the ‘Evil’ Stars, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Kick Off the 2025 Oscars with ‘Challenging Gravity’

Performance Highlights

Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the Oscars in 2025 with a captivating medley of “throwing heaviness,” “at home,” and “somewhere over the rainbow” – check out the footage below.

The duet took the stage at the Academy Award ceremony last night (March 2), following a montage of clips from films nominated for Oscars.

Grande kicked off the performance, singing the classic Wizard of Oz tune “somewhere over the rainbow,” while Erivo later took on Diana Ross’s “Home” from The Wiz. Queen Latifah also performed another Wicked track, “easy on the road,” in tribute to Quincy Jones.

After a solo, Erivo began the couple’s rendition of Wicked‘s “defying gravity” – Grande stepped aside to let Erivo showcase the song’s powerful climax as the floor elevated, eliciting an enthusiastic reaction from the audience at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Award Nominations

Both Grande and Erivo received nominations for their roles in Wicked, with Grande nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Erivo as Best Actress.

In the Best Supporting Actress category, Grande competed against Felicity Jones (Brutalist), Monica Barbaro (Full Unknown), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), and Zoe Saldana, who won for her role in Emilia Perez.

Erivo’s competitors were Carla Sofia Gason (Emilia Perez), Demi Moore (Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), with Mike Madison winning for Anora.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Academy decided to open the show with a Wicked medley, but it was later revealed that this was not confirmed, prompting Erivo to describe the situation as “wishful thinking.”

This year, the ceremony will not feature live performances for the Best Original Song category, with artists nominated in this category receiving awards during the night. Instead, the show will highlight “personal thoughts” from the songwriters.

Additionally, other performances during the night included a tribute to the James Bond franchise featuring Doja Cat, BlackPink’s Lisa, Raye, and Margaret Qualley.

Critical Reception

Saldana, a contender for Best Supporting Actress, later remarked on her win when a journalist noted the controversy surrounding Emilia Perez stating she felt “truly offended” for the Mexicans.

In a four-star review, NME noted: “Wicked may carry a few flags, but it does not detract from the dramatic climax where Elphaba and Glinda travel to Oz to meet the legendary Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). He and Yeo deliver their short musical segments with sparkling charisma, while Erivo and Grande shine brightly.”

“Their chemistry sizzles, blending Erivo’s powerful outbursts with Grande’s smooth comedic timing. By the end, you may not remain in your seat, but you’ll definitely be intrigued enough to play the soundtrack on the way home. Funny, colorful, and full of empathy for outsiders, this film is truly Shiz.” Wicked: Forever, the sequel, is set to be released in November of this year.