Ariana Grande surprised her London crowd by bringing out her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo for an unplanned duet during the second night of her Eternal Sunshine Tour residency at the O2 Arena. The audience on Sunday, August 16, watched the two performers sing “For Good” from the hit musical and also performed a medley of “Get Happy / Happy Days Are Here Again” together. This onstage reunion marked the first time the actresses performed together since the Wicked: One Wonderful Night television special in November.
Surprise Performance of Wicked’s “For Good” and “Happy Days” Medley
Grande, 33, was in the middle of her show’s encore when she brought Erivo, 39, onto the stage. They sang “For Good,” the emotional duet from Wicked that their characters Glinda and Elphaba share. Following that, the pair performed their version of “Get Happy / Happy Days Are Here Again,” a medley they had previously done during the NBC special promoting the second Wicked film.
The surprise came as a treat for the London audience. Wicked songs are not normally part of the Eternal Sunshine Tour setlist, making the performance an exclusive moment for fans at the O2. Erivo had been spotted in the VIP section of the arena earlier in the evening before joining her co-star on stage.
Grande’s Final Leg of Eternal Sunshine Tour in London
The London shows are the final stop of Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour. She is performing 10 nights at the O2 Arena, with the tour scheduled to end on September 1. The tour shares its name with her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine.
Grande kicked off the London residency on Saturday, August 15. The setlist includes songs from Eternal Sunshine, tracks from her new album Petal, and older hits like “Into You,” “Thank U, Next,” and “7 Rings”. The show features elaborate staging, including a rundown house set and a lighting rig that transforms into a police helicopter.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s History On and Off Screen
Erivo and Grande starred together in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked (2024) and its sequel Wicked: For Good. Erivo played Elphaba, the misunderstood green-skinned witch, while Grande played Glinda, the good witch. Both received Oscar nominations for their performances in the first film.
Their friendship has been a talking point since the Wicked press tour. The two have remained close after filming wrapped. Erivo has said they still exchange text messages almost every day. The London concert appearance is their first public reunion since the promotional cycle for the Wicked movies ended last year.
Grande’s Planned Break from Public Life
Grande’s London concerts come with added weight because she has announced she will step back from public life after the tour ends. Her representative told People earlier in August that she plans to take a break from public-facing work and appearances.
“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
Grande addressed the decision directly during a Chicago concert earlier this month. She told fans the choice was planned well in advance and was not a reaction to recent criticism.
“The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I had decided, a plan I had quietly made a long time ago, and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”
She also clarified that outside negativity was not the reason for her break. Grande has faced intense public scrutiny over her physical appearance in recent years. Her music video for “Petal,” the title track from her new album, sparked additional concerns about her health.
Due to her planned hiatus, Grande dropped out of the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George. She was set to star opposite another Wicked co-star, Jonathan Bailey. Her role will be recast.
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Fan Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Fans at the O2 Arena and online reacted strongly to the surprise reunion. Video clips of the performance spread quickly on social media. One fan account posted footage of the duet with the caption “Ariana and Cynthia performing ‘For Good’ tonight at ESTLondon”. Another clip showed the two performers embracing in a big hug on stage.
Grande also shared a clip of the performance on her Instagram Stories with a heart emoji. The moment gave fans a final look at the two stars together before Grande steps away from the spotlight.
Also Read: Ariana Grande Makes History as Fourth Female Artist With 100 Billboard Hot 100 Songs
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