Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel, and Kristin Chenoweth Unite for a Historic “For Good” Performance

It was a night Broadway fans will never forget. Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel, and Kristin Chenoweth shared the stage for the first time to perform the beloved Wicked duet “For Good,” bridging generations of Elphabas and Glindas in an unforgettable moment of musical history. The special aired during NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night on November 6, just ahead of the highly anticipated release of Wicked: For Good in theaters later this month.

A legendary performance connecting Broadway and Hollywood

The performance brought together the original Broadway icons — Menzel and Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in 2003 — and their big-screen successors, Erivo and Grande, who star in the upcoming two-part film adaptation directed by Jon M. Chu.

The powerful rendition of “For Good” marked a symbolic passing of the torch from stage to screen. Both pairs of performers stood side by side on stage, their voices intertwining on the emotional anthem about friendship, forgiveness, and change.

“It felt like a full-circle moment for Wicked fans everywhere,” one audience member shared online. “Hearing all four voices together was magic.”

The collaboration was part of NBC’s primetime special One Wonderful Night, which transformed Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre into an Emerald City-inspired dreamscape, complete with a 37-piece live orchestra led by award-winning musical director Stephen Oremus.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo deliver stunning solo performances

Ahead of the grand finale duet, both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo performed signature numbers from the upcoming film. Grande opened the show with a cinematic new arrangement of “No One Mourns the Wicked,” dazzling in a shimmery champagne gown as she performed with a full choir and orchestra.

Her soaring vocals and stage presence captivated the crowd, who waved bouquets of flowers in rhythm with her notes — a nod to the celebratory tone of Glinda’s opening number.

Meanwhile, Erivo delivered a spine-tingling performance of “The Wizard and I,” dressed in a sleek, menswear-inspired ensemble. Bathed in emerald lighting, she brought emotional intensity and precision to the song that defines Elphaba’s ambitions and dreams.

Both performances earned standing ovations from the live audience and instantly went viral online, with fans praising their “breathtaking chemistry” and “effortless command of Wicked’s most demanding songs.”

Menzel and Chenoweth’s surprise appearance

In a surprise twist, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth appeared during the For Good number in a scene set in the first film’s Emerald City, joining Grande and Erivo for the song’s climactic moments.

Their voices blended seamlessly — the Broadway veterans’ seasoned tone complementing the film stars’ modern flair — creating a moment that united Wicked’s 20-year legacy of friendship, empowerment, and hope.

“Ariana and Cynthia are the future of Wicked, but we’re all part of the same story,” Menzel said backstage. “This song has always been about what we give to each other — and tonight, it came full circle.”

Chenoweth echoed her sentiment, telling reporters that “performing For Good with all of them was a gift” and “a love letter to every fan who’s kept Wicked alive for two decades.”

About the Wicked: For Good movie

The upcoming film adaptation, Wicked: For Good, hits theaters on November 21, 2025, with Ariana Grande starring as Glinda Upland and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp.

Directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), the movie is the first of a two-part adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, which is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The story explores the unlikely friendship between Elphaba and Glinda as they navigate ambition, morality, and destiny at Shiz University — long before Dorothy ever arrived in Oz.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Wicked remains one of Broadway’s most successful musicals, having grossed over $1 billion worldwide and inspiring generations of fans.

A celebration of Wicked’s legacy

The NBC special served as both a celebration of Wicked’s enduring popularity and a preview of its cinematic future. Fans took to social media moments after the broadcast, calling the performance “one of the greatest TV musical moments ever.”

Clips of the For Good performance quickly began trending across platforms, with users praising the emotional synergy between the four singers and the production’s stunning visuals.

“This was more than a performance — it was a generational moment,” one viewer wrote on X. “Seeing Idina and Kristin with Ariana and Cynthia was like watching history sing.”

With its blend of nostalgia, musical excellence, and cinematic grandeur, the performance perfectly set the stage for the film’s release — reminding fans why Wicked continues to resonate “for good.”

Are you excited to see Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bring Wicked to the big screen? Share your thoughts in the comments on InvestRecords.com!