Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo kicked off the 2025 Oscars with a performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The Wicked stars took turns taking the Academy Awards stage after a montage of clips from various Oscar-nominated films were shown, with Grande starting the performance by singing the classic song in homage to Wizard of Oz. Erivo then came onstage to perform Diana Ross Home fromThe Wiz.

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After Erivos solo, Grande joined her Wicked co-star to perform Defying Gravity. At one point, Grande stepped aside to watch Erivo belt the songs high notes including the notable riff. Both Grande and Erivo were nominated for their respective Wicked roles with Grande nominated in the supporting actress category and Erivo for best actress.

Earlier this month,Puckreportedthat the Academy and executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan have decided to open the show with aWickedmedley. However, sources close to the telecast and both actresses toldTHRthat it was not, in fact, a done deal at that time, which is why Erivo originally denied that it was set to happen. However, the Academy and its broadcasting partner ABC did in fact enlist the two stars of 2024s biggest blockbusters to raise the curtain on the show.

Earlier this year, the Academy announced that the Oscars would move away from live performances of Oscar-nominated songs this year and would instead instead focus on the backstories of the nominated songwriters.

In addition to the two Wicked stars, other performers set to take the stage during the ceremony include Doja Cat, Lisa of Blackpink, Queen Latifah and Raye who will showcase showstopping performances celebrating the filmmaking community and some of its legends during the Oscar telecast, according to the Academy. The show also will feature a special appearance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Erivo and Grande are set to star in Wickeds forthcoming sequel,Wicked: For Good. On the red carpet, Erivo teased of the second movie, These girls have to deal with the consequences of their decisions and its both joyful and heartbreaking and all the things you could possibly imagine. And there are some songs in there that you might recognize and love too, and I think it will be really special.

Going into Sundays show, Emilia Prez leads the nominations with 13,setting a record for a non-English-language film. FollowingEmilia PrezwereThe BrutalistandWicked, which tied with 10 noms apiece.A Complete UnknownandConclavefollowed with eight mentions each.

The 97th Academy Awards,hosted by Conan OBrien, aired live coast-to-coast on Sunday, March 2, from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on ABCand Hulu.