Here’s Every Performance From The 2025 Oscars!
The Oscars were a night to remember! Anora won big and led to a historic night for director Sean Baker who is the first person to win four Academy Awards in the same night for the same film. Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for his work in Wicked, while Zoe Saldaña is now the first Dominican to take home an Oscar for her Best Supporting Actress win. On top of all that we got some iconic musical moments, including our first live performance from Wicked. Here’s a breakdown of the performances at the 2025 Oscars!
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Celebrate The Legacy of The Wizard Of Oz
The first performance of the night was from none other than Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Grande kicked off the show with a beautiful performance of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Judy Garland — a nod to The Wizard Of Oz. She also commemorated Dorothy’s ruby red slippers with a sparkly red dress and a heel on the back.
Onto another on theme performance was Erivo’s rendition of “Home” from The Wiz. Her ability to provoke such emotion and passion with ease makes her a brilliant performer that you enjoy watching every time. Then, the moment we’ve all been waiting for was the duo performing “Defying Gravity” live for the very first time. The runs, the belts, the elegance, the strength, Grande’s looks of admiration to Erivo’s solo… it all brought chills throughout.
James Bond Tribute By LISA, Raye, and Doja Cat
In honor of the James Bond franchise acquired by Prime Video, the award ceremony decided to pay tribute to the many films with three separate performances by LISA, Doja Cat, and Raye. Though fans may have expected the trio to perform their most recent collab “Born Again,” they all embodied a different Bond film from 1971 to 2012.
After Margaret Qualley channeled her inner Bond Girl in a dance cameo, LISA took the stage to perform “Live And Let Die” with dancers and a sultry energy. The choreography was simple and I wished Lisa could have done more, but it was effective in capturing that Bond vibe.
Afterwards, Doja Cat channeled her inner Shirley Bassey with “Diamonds Are Forever.” A vocally demanding song of that caliber comes with high expectations and, though Doja’s performance didn’t resonate with me, it was the first time most people have heard her sing like this and she looked amazing in her diamond dress.
One of my favorite performances was Raye’s cover of “Skyfall.” She commanded the audience’s attention with such a breathtaking, powerful song and kept you locked in. Her vocals are always so mesmerizing to listen to and she truly was a standout in the tribute.
Queen Latifah Honors Quincy Jones
Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg walked onto the stage to talk about the legacy of music producer Quincy Jones who passed away in 2024. Jones worked with multiple generational talents including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and composed brilliant scores such as The Wiz, The Color Purple, In Cold Blood, and more.
In honor of Jones and The Wiz, Queen Latifah sang “Ease On Down The Road” with a high-energy performance featuring dancers and backup singers. Her chrome outfit, the groovy vibes, and the soulfulness had the Wicked stars and others up on their feet dancing along.
