‘Wicked: For Good’ trailer: Elphaba defies gravity again
Oscar nominees Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reprise their roles as Elphaba and Glinda respectively in the musical sequel “Wicked: For Good.”
Cynthia Erivo is about to change your Thanksgiving morning for good.
The Tony-winning “Wicked” star has been tapped to open this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 27, USA TODAY can exclusively reveal.
Erivo will deliver an opening number to kick off the event in New York City, which is airing on NBC and Peacock one week after the release of the highly anticipated musical sequel “Wicked: For Good.”
The previously announced lineup of performers for the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade includes EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who provide the singing voices for HUNTR/X from the wildly popular Netflix musical “KPop Demon Hunters.” Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Christopher Jackson, Ciara, Jewel, Kool & the Gang, Lil Jon and more artists are also slated to perform, and the Radio City Rockettes will celebrate their 100th anniversary.
This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature 34 balloons, 28 floats and 11 marching bands, according to organizers. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker are hosting the NBC telecast.
Erivo previously made an appearance during last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where she chatted about the release of the first “Wicked” movie and gave her approval for audiences to sing while watching it in theaters. She also gave a bouquet of flowers to Kotb ahead of the broadcaster’s departure from the “Today” show.
Erivo’s parade performance will cap a big month for the award-winning star of stage and screen, who reprises her Oscar-nominated role of Elphaba in “Wicked: For Good” and is out with a new book, “Simply More,” on Nov. 18. She also performed songs from “Wicked” alongside her costar Ariana Grande in an NBC special, “Wicked: One Wonderful Night,” that aired Nov. 6.
In a recent interview for her book “Simply More,” Erivo spoke with USA TODAY about her self-care routines amid her busy “Wicked: For Good” press tour.
“What I didn’t do the last time was plan lymphatic massages,” she said. “They help to remove any toxins and any water retention within the body, but it also just makes me feel really good. It really helps me reconnect. So I’ve tried to plot (those massages) at every stop that I’m going to.”
How to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on Thursday, Nov. 27, on NBC from 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones. An encore will follow on NBC at 2 p.m. ET/PT, and the parade will also stream on Peacock.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund and Patrick Ryan
