Ariana Grande made a stunning appearance as the surprise musical guest at this year’s Met Gala, captivating the star-studded audience with a set of her greatest hits. The Thank U, Next singer took the stage inside New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, adorned in a sheer green ensemble from Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano.
Accompanied by 30 dancers and members of the 40-person choir Broadway Inspirational Voices, Ariana delivered a memorable performance in front of the Temple of Dendur. Vogue reports that she kicked off her set with “Once Upon a Dream” from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, followed by hits like “Into You” and “7 Rings.” Transitioning to new material, she treated the audience to tracks from her album Eternal Sunshine, including “The Boy Is Mine,” “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love),” and “Yes, And?”
The highlight of the evening came when Ariana joined forces with her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo for a mesmerizing duet of “When You Believe,” originally performed by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey in 1998. Earlier in the night, the duo posed together on the Met’s steps, with Ariana showcasing an elegant white Loewe dress.
In an interview with Variety, Ariana expressed her deep bond with Cynthia, forged during the filming of the movie musical. “She is really truly my sister. We really found in each other things we needed,” she shared. Fans can anticipate the release of the first part of Wicked, featuring Ariana as Glinda and Cynthia as Elphaba, in November.
This year’s Met Gala theme, “The Garden of Time,” paid homage to the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. Ariana Grande’s surprise performance added a touch of musical magic to an already enchanting evening at the prestigious event.
