The first installment of Jon M. Chuโs elaborate, Oscar-winning film โWickedโ contains a number of Easter eggs for devotees of the stage show, fans of the 1939 โWizard of Ozโ movie and readers of the books the shows were based on.
Ariana Grande, who played Glinda in โWicked,โ also included a hidden surprise in her 2025 Oscars performance for eagle-eyed fans.
The Academy Awards opened with a spotlight shining on Grande standing alone in a sparkling red dress reminiscent of Dorothyโs ruby slippers in 1939โs โThe Wizard of Oz.โ Fittingly, Grande sang a breathtaking version of โSomewhere Over the Rainbow.โ She also joined Erivo for the brief duet for โDefying Gravity.โ
What viewers may not have noticed during the broadcast is the back of Grande’s dress featured a ruby slipper pointing up just between her shoulder blades.
Though she played Glinda in โWicked,โ Grande has long had a soft spot for Dorothy, since it was one of the first roles she played on stage as a child.
Hosted by Conan OโBrien, the 2025 Oscars are broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in Los Angeles at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The official red carpet show will start at 6:30 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Theย 2025 Oscars are available to watchย on ABC and stream live on Hulu.
Among theย most-nominated filmsย are โEmilia Pรฉrezโ with 13 nominations and โWickedโ with 10. The list of performers include Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Queen Latifah, Raye and Doja Cat, among others. The ceremony will also feature a special appearance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Followย TODAY.comโs live blogย for complete Oscars coverage, includingย this yearโs winnersย and unexpected moments.
