Occupy Cinema

At the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, Ariana Grande opened the show singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in a ruby red dress. Cynthia Erivo followed with "Home" from The Wiz. Then they dueted "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. When Erivo hit the final note, the entire Dolby Theatre stood.
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The performances honored Judy Garland's legacy and the Wicked film in one sequence. Grande channeled Dorothy while Erivo owned the stage as Elphaba. The standing ovation wasn't polite. It was involuntary. Some moments at the Oscars feel scripted. This one didn't.
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#Wicked #ArianaGrande #CynthiaErivo #Oscars #DefyingGravity