Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Oscars 2025 performance moves Michelle Yeoh to tears

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo delivered a breathtaking performance at the 2025 Oscars, bringing the audience to their feet with Defying Gravity from Wicked.

The powerful duet left their Wicked co-star Michelle Yeoh visibly emotional, as cameras captured her wiping away tears while applauding.

The duo opened the Academy Awards with a tribute to The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and their own film, Wicked. Grande, dressed in a dazzling ruby-red gown, began with Over the Rainbow, while Erivo followed with a soul-stirring rendition of Home. They then united for Defying Gravity, earning a standing ovation for their spellbinding performance.

Yeoh’s emotional reaction quickly went viral, with fans praising the performance as one of the most unforgettable moments of the night. With Wicked earning 10 Oscar nominations, including acting nods for both Grande and Erivo, the film continues to make a lasting impact ahead of its sequel, Wicked: For Good, set for release in November.