‘Wicked’ Star Delivers Powerhouse Opening, Celebrates Box Office Triumph
Superstar vocalist and Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo not only opened the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a show-stopping performance but also shared a heartwarming, spontaneous moment with fellow music icon Queen Latifah.
The 38-year-old “Wicked” star, who delivered a powerful rendition of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” to kick off the annual festivities, was captured on camera spotting Queen Latifah in the crowd. The spontaneous reunion saw Erivo joyfully lean in for an excited hug with the A-lister, who was bundled up in a cozy puffer jacket and knitted beanie as she grinned and waved back. The special moment between the two celebrated performers quickly became one of the parade’s most memorable highlights.
A Box Office Sensation and a Show-Stopping Look
Erivo’s appearance six days after the theatrical release of “Wicked: For Good,” the second installment of the beloved Broadway musical adaptation. The film, in which Erivo plays the lead role of Elphaba, has proven to be a massive box office success. Reports from The Numbers confirmed that ticket sales for the sequel were set to surpass $150 million by the end of the weekend, securing it the second-best weekend opening of 2025, trailing only April’s “A Minecraft Movie.”
Dressed in a coordinated, elegant maroon look featuring a floor-length coat and matching hat, Erivo brought her signature style and Grammy-winning voice to the parade route. Her performance, which followed her 2025 Oscar nomination for the first installment of Wicked, drew overwhelming praise from viewers. One fan on YouTube encapsulated the feeling, commenting that “no one really cared about any other performance this year,” solidifying Erivo’s status as a fan favorite who unequivocally stole the show.
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