Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo kicked off the 2025 Academy Awards with a stunning medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and their roles in Wicked. Grande, dressed in a shimmering ruby-red dress, opened with a beautiful rendition of "Over the Rainbow," followed by Erivo’s emotional performance of "Home" by Diana Ross. The duo then joined forces to belt out “Defying Gravity,” earning a standing ovation and moving co-star Michelle Yeoh to tears.

Wicked received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup. Both Grande and Erivo received individual nominations—Grande for Best Supporting Actress and Erivo for Best Actress. This performance was a highlight of the night, especially after the Academy decided to forgo live performances in the Best Original Song category, focusing instead on songwriters and their creative journeys.