**Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to Perform at This Year’s Oscars**
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who portrayed Glinda and Elphaba in last year’s film adaptation of *Wicked*, have been confirmed to perform at the upcoming Oscars. The duo had previously dismissed speculation about their participation but are now set to take the stage at the prestigious awards ceremony.
Scheduled for March 2 in Los Angeles, the event will also feature performances by Doja Cat, Queen Latifah, British singer-songwriter Raye, and Lisa from Blackpink, who is currently appearing in the third season of *White Lotus*. Additionally, the Los Angeles Master Chorale will make a special appearance, as announced by the Academy.
In a departure from tradition, this year’s ceremony will not include live performances of the nominees for Best Original Song. The nominated songs include “El Mal” from *Emilia Perez*, “The Journey” from *The Six Triple Eight*, “Like a Bird” from *Sing Sing*, “Mi Camino” from *Emilia Perez*, and “Never Too Late” by Elton John. While the specific songs each performer will sing remain undisclosed, it is anticipated that Erivo and Grande will perform at least one number from *Wicked*. The song “Defying Gravity” notably spent four weeks in the Top 10 of the UK’s official chart and became a viral hit.
This year’s Oscars could be particularly significant for Grande and Erivo, as both actresses are nominated for awards—Erivo for Best Actress and Grande for Best Supporting Actress—thanks to their roles in the first part of *Wicked*, which achieved the largest opening weekend for a stage musical adaptation. The sequel, *Wicked: For Good*, is set to be released in November.
*Wicked* is facing stiff competition at the Oscars, having garnered 10 nominations, the same as the period drama *The Brutalist*. Meanwhile, *Emilia Perez*, a Netflix film featuring Zoe Saldana and Karla Sofia Gascon, has made history with 13 nominations, the most for a non-English language film.
Stay tuned for live coverage of the 97th Oscars on March 2.
