Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the 97th Academy Awards with a breathtaking musical medley featuring songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked.
Following a tribute to Los Angeles as it recovers from devastating wildfires, Grande took the stage with an emotional rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz.
Erivo then captivated the audience with Home from the 1975 musical The Wiz.
The two Oscar nominees later joined forces for a show-stopping performance of Defying Gravity, the iconic finale of Wicked’s first act.
Grande dazzled in a sparkly red dress embellished with a ruby slipper design, while Erivo stunned in a strapless white gown adorned with floral details.
As Erivo delivered her character’s soaring final note, the audience erupted into applause, giving the duo a well-deserved standing ovation.
