As a movie critic, I always brace myself for Oscar snubs when the nominations are announced, and honestly, the biggest shock for the upcoming 2026 ceremony is the complete shutout of Wicked: For Good. It’s a genuine surprise, and a pretty significant one at that.
While the recent Wicked movie musical didn’t perform as well as the first one, either critically or financially, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both delivered excellent performances as Elphaba and Glinda. Given the huge success of the first film – it received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture – many anticipated that the Academy would at least recognize the sequel with some awards.
Despite hoping for Oscar wins, Wicked: For Good didn’t receive any nominations. However, fans of Wicked had something to celebrate at the Grammy Awards, where Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their version of “Defying Gravity.”
Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande Defy the Odds and Take Home a Grammy
Universal
While “Defying Gravity” is from the musical Wicked and marks the end of the first act, it’s still recognition for something within that story. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo weren’t considered the frontrunners to win; betting odds gave them only about an 11.9% chance. Many predicted Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” or “Golden” from the hit Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters would win instead. Kendrick Lamar & SZA (“30 for 30”) and Katseye (“Gabriela”) were also nominated in this category.
Neither Cynthia Erivo nor Ariana Grande seemed to expect a win, as both were absent when the award was announced. The Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance was presented at a pre-show ceremony, called the “Premiere,” where most of the awards are given out, and it was actually the very first award of the night.
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This marks Cynthia Erivo’s second Grammy win, following her 2017 victory for Best Musical Theater Album with The Color Purple. Ariana Grande has also won two Grammys previously: in 2019 for Best Pop Vocal Album (Sweetener) and in 2021 for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Lady Gaga on “Rain on Me.” This latest win brings Grande’s total Grammy count to two in that specific category.
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2026-02-02 14:04