Ariana Grande Gives Wondrous Surprise Met Gala Performance
Following her second Met Gala red carpet appearance, Ariana Grande took to the stage as the evening’s surprise performer.
At this year’s Met Gala, Ariana Grande stunned in a custom Loewe gown with a bodice crafted from mother of pearl and a hand-pleated, multi-layered chiffon skirt. Following this year’s dress code “Garden of Time,” creative director Jonathan Anderson drew inspiration from “the magic of nature,” according to Grande. Unbeknownst to fans, the two-time Grammy winner would debut another outfit soon after.
When asked by interviewer Marc Malkin if Grande and Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo would be performing together later that evening, Erivo responded, “That’s such a cheeky question,” with Grande chiming in, “That’s such a good idea.” At around 10:30 P.M., “the boy is mine” singer’s makeup artist Michael Anthony shared a video of Grande dolling herself up in a new ethereal ensemble. Soon, videos of the vocalist’s performance began surfacing online.
For her surprise performance, the pop princess slipped into a sheer green Margiela gown designed by John Galliano. Adorned with an overlay of tulle and crystals, Grande effortlessly radiated fairy energy. The structured corset at the outfit’s base further elevated the look.
In a statement to Vouge, Grande reflected on the designing process: “I am the biggest Margiela and John Galliano fan on the planet, so when I heard that there was a chance that John was going to be designing my costume, I wept,” she stated. “When I saw the sketch, I wept. When I tried it on, I wept. The whole thing has been quite a lot. “I’ve never felt more beautiful or more ‘me’ in a performance look than I did in this one.”
Grande made a grand entrance by being carried in by her background dancers as orchestral music played. As the group proceeded to center stage, she began singing “Once Upon a Dream” from Sleeping Beauty, showcasing her enchanting, Glinda-like operatic vocals. A custom Margiela gown with an off-white, webbed petticoat concealed her main outfit. The temple and sylvan-inspired set by Derek McLane fully encompassed the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s theme for the costume exhibit, “Sleeping Beauty: Reawakening Fashion.”
@arianagrande once upon a dream… @Vogue ♬ original sound – arianagrande
The Wicked actress performed previous hits including “Into You” and “7 Rings,” and more current tracks from her latest album, Eternal Sunshine, including “yes, and?” and “the boy is mine.” Directed by Tony-winning director Michael Arden, the elaborate performance was complete with 30 performers and included members of the 40-person choir, Broadway Inspirational Voices.
Erivo joined Grande for a rendition of “When You Believe” by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston from the animated film The Prince of Egypt. The “worming,” as described by Grande, of the pair’s voices was on full display, further exciting fans for the upcoming musical films.
ariana and cynthia had all the celebrities gagged pic.twitter.com/R22evnB1WA
— ale ☀️ (@17POSITIONS) May 7, 2024
More clips from Grande’s stellar performance are available on her Tiktok account. Wicked (Part One) will be in theaters this holiday season on November 27. Fans can follow the film’s socials for updates.
Isaiah is an entertainment writer for Glitter Magazine with a focus on music and film stories. He enjoys the aforementioned topics as well as performing, yoga, and fashion.
