The Wicked duo of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will kick off the ceremony on Sunday with a live musical performance.
In addition, they will be joined by Doja Cat, LISA of Blackpink, Queen Latifah and RAYE. The group of artists is said to "participate in showstopping performances celebrating the filmmaking community and some of its legends."
The show will also feature a special appearance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
This announcement comes after a report from Puck stated that "the Academy and executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan have decided to open the show with a Wicked medley." This also follows the announcement that this year's show would not continue the tradition of having live performances of the Best Original Song nominees. Instead — as reported by Variety— the show will spotlight the songwriters and their backgrounds in the field.
It hasn't been announced which song or songs Cynthia and Ariana will perform in the medley, but with options that include "Defying Gravity," "Popular," and "The Wizard and I," there will be no shortage of choices in what should be an entertaining kickoff to the show.
This year's ceremony comes after devastating wildfires hit the city in January. In light of this, the show will "honor Los Angeles as the city of dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience, as well as its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for over a century."
Conan O'Brien is set to host the festivities this year, while Nick Offerman will serve as the announcer. In addition, there will be an excellent lineup of presenters highlighted by last year's winners: Cillian Murphy, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr. and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
Other presenters include Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Stiller, Sterling K. Brown, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Goldie Hawn, Connie Nielsen, Joe Alwyn, Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb and Bowen Yang.
The 97th Oscars air this Sunday, March 2, 2025. ~Ryan Donahue