Will the 2025 Oscars defy gravity? Well, that’s the rumor going around. ICYMI, it’s been reported that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will supposedly join forces during the 2025 Academy Wards for a medley of songs from their hit film Wicked. The news was first reported by Puck News on Feb. 7. The outlet reported that the pair will open the ceremony with a medley from Wicked, most likely including the songs we all know and love, like “Defying Gravity,” “What Is This Feeling,” and maybe even “Popular.” But are we really getting a performance from Grande and Erivo on Mar. 2? Here’s what we know so far.
After Puck News reported that the Academy’s looking to open the 2025 ceremony with a medley of Wicked songs performed by the film’s two female leads, Erivo spoke on these rumors while walking the Critics’s Choice Awards red carpet on Feb. 7. “Why does everyone keep saying that? I don’t know where this has come from,” she said. “This feels like wishful thinking to me, personally. Why on Earth would we be singing?”
Erivo was then asked if she’s had conversations with the Academy about an opening performance, to which she replied, “No.” She then added, “People are asking me if we’re going to be singing at the Oscars. I don’t know why we would be doing that, since our song is not nominated. That doesn’t happen. I don’t know what to tell you.”
While it seemed like that was the end of this conversation, Deadline reported on Feb. 24 that Erivo and Grande will *actually* be hitting the Oscars stage to perform together. According to the outlet, the actresses are among the night’s musical performers, which include Doja Cat, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Raye, and Queen Latifah. All of these artists will give “showstopping performances celebrating the filmmaking community and some of its legends at the 97th Oscars.”
So, there you have it, besties. It seems like Erivo and Grande will be singing together during the 2025 Oscars. Of course, fans ran to social media to share their thoughts about their two faves performing together *live* at the 2025 Academy Awards.
Grande and Erivo have definitely been looking forward to getting the chance to take the stage side by side again. “Of course, we love singing with each other,” Grande shared with The Hollywood Reporter in December 2024. “I’ll sing together absolutely anywhere anytime, especially in celebration of Wicked, and I love her, that’s my sister,” Erivo added. “Say the word and we’ll be there.”