Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo Move Oscars Audience with Emotional Performance

The 2025 Oscars featured a captivating opening performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who sang a medley of iconic songs from 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'The Wiz,' and 'Wicked.' Grande's emotional rendition of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' was followed by Erivo's powerful 'Home,' culminating in a duet of 'Defying Gravity,' which left the audience in tears. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien, celebrated films like 'Wicked' and 'Emilia Pérez,' the latter receiving 13 nominations despite notable snubs, such as Zendaya's absence in the Best Actress category. Viewers expressed their admiration for the performance on social media, with many highlighting the visible emotion from Grande's boyfriend, Ethan Slater, in the audience. The Oscars also faced criticism for nomination controversies, including accusations of