Cynthia Erivo brought a taste of magic to New York City as she kicked off the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with an enchanting performance. The Wicked: For Good star, who played Elphaba in the latest film adaptation of the hit musical, belted out Nina Simone's classic hit "Feeling Good" on the grand pianist's accompaniment from a dark, circular platform. Her rendition of the song was met with thunderous applause as she performed, and afterwards, welcomed fans to the parade before cutting the ceremonial red ribbon with oversized scissors.
In an interview with Late Night With Seth Meyers, Erivo revealed that she kept her performance a secret until it was time to take the stage, citing the need for a moment of calm amidst her busy schedule. It's clear, however, that this Thanksgiving Day Parade opening was a much-needed respite from her fast-paced performances.
The parade has been a beloved tradition for millions, and this year's lineup promises to be just as spectacular. Erivo joins an impressive list of performers including Lainey Wilson, Ciara, the singing voices of KPop Demon Hunters, Conan Gray, Russell Dickerson, and Busta Rhymes, among others. The event will also feature new character balloons from Toy Story, Pac-Man, Shrek, and Nintendo's Mario.
"We're proud to be a part of this iconic parade," said Jen Neal, an NBCUniversal executive. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade brings families together like nothing else on television and remains a cherished tradition for millions." The event will air on NBC, Telemundo, and stream on Peacock.
In an interview with Late Night With Seth Meyers, Erivo revealed that she kept her performance a secret until it was time to take the stage, citing the need for a moment of calm amidst her busy schedule. It's clear, however, that this Thanksgiving Day Parade opening was a much-needed respite from her fast-paced performances.
The parade has been a beloved tradition for millions, and this year's lineup promises to be just as spectacular. Erivo joins an impressive list of performers including Lainey Wilson, Ciara, the singing voices of KPop Demon Hunters, Conan Gray, Russell Dickerson, and Busta Rhymes, among others. The event will also feature new character balloons from Toy Story, Pac-Man, Shrek, and Nintendo's Mario.
"We're proud to be a part of this iconic parade," said Jen Neal, an NBCUniversal executive. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade brings families together like nothing else on television and remains a cherished tradition for millions." The event will air on NBC, Telemundo, and stream on Peacock.
! Her performance was truly magical and got me pumped up for the rest of the parade 
. I love how she kept it a secret until the big reveal, though - girl needs her calm moments too 
. And can we talk about the lineup this year? It looks like there's something for everyone, from KPop to country to hip hop 
. The character balloons are also a great touch - my fave is Pac-Man 
! I'm excited to see the parade on NBC and Peacock with my fam 
seriously though it's amazing how she kept her performance a secret until that moment, i feel like we need more moments of calm in our busy lives. and yay for the rest of the performers too! it looks like there's something for everyone this year 
I was at the parade with my grandkids last year & it really brought out the kid in me all over again! Seeing Cynthia Erivo shine on that piano bench was pure magic 
... she's got pipes for days! The new character balloons look so cool too, my niece is going to love them 
. I do wish they'd consider more diverse performers though, not that it wasn't a great lineup this year... but a girl can dream 
. Anyway, can't wait to see the parade on TV with a cuppa hot chocolate & the fam 
she brought that magic right into the heart of new york city i was literally screaming when i saw her perform feeling good on piano 
and those fans were just losing it too!! i love how she kept her performance a secret tho, like girl needs some calm in the chaos before all the shows 
I gotta say, Cynthia Erivo totally brought the magic to that parade performance! 
The way she belted out those notes from that dark platform was like nothing I've ever seen before. And can we talk about how chill she seemed after it all? 
I mean, she's one busy girl, but she needed a moment of calm before all the fans and cameras. 
. It's just one big happy family (or at least as happy as can be expected on Thanksgiving Day 
). And I'm so down for some KPop Demon Hunters, Conan Gray, and Busta Rhymes joining in on the fun! 
And I'm glad NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock are making it accessible to everyone.
maybe create a flowchart of my favorite performers from this year's lineup 
. i mean i get it cynthia erivo is talented but you gotta bring the fire for an entire half hour, not just a warm up lap 
.
and omg those character balloons for Toy Story, Pac-Man, Shrek, and Mario are gonna be SO much fun 
And yet, at the same time, we're all just swept away by her talent and charisma. It's like, the crowd is feeding off her energy, you know? 
... I mean, have you seen the lineup? It looks like they're trying to distract us from the real issues while we're all caught up in the magic of it all 
. And what's with Erivo being a secret performer? That's just too convenient for my taste 
.
I mean, who needs a fancy concert hall when you can perform in front of millions of people on TV? 
The parade always brings so much joy and nostalgia - I love seein' those new character balloons every year! 
The parade is more than just a tradition, it's an event - you gotta experience it in person to get the full magic. Erivo was supposed to be all about calm and quiet before the storm, but I think she just wanted to get this party started early! 
