Ariana Grande gave a special treat to the A-list guests at the 2024 Met Gala when she was revealed to be this year's surprise musical guest.
Each Met Gala — which is held at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art — features a highly anticipated surprise performance, and the 30-year-old singer–songwriter didn't disappoint with a survey of some of her biggest hits.
Ariana even had an extra surprise for the gala guests: a duet featuring her Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo, 37.
For her performance, which was held at the Met's Temple of Dendur, the Thank U, Next singer changed into a bespoke Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano, according to Vogue.
The sheer green dress, which had flower-like ruffles decorating the skirt, left little to the imagination and highlighted her contrasting bra.
To cap off a thoroughly enchanting evening in honor of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” Ariana Grande was a surprise performer at the 2024 #MetGala. Watch here: https://t.co/F9ONVeu6gX pic.twitter.com/WtgcTBcX7F
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) May 7, 2024
Ariana Grande gave a special treat to the A-list guests at the 2024 Met Gala when she was revealed to be this year's surprise musical guest, while her Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo joined her for a duet as the finale
Each Met Gala features a highly anticipated surprise performance, and the 30-year-old singer–songwriter didn't disappoint with a survey of some of her biggest hits
Cynthia and Ariana play the leads in the upcoming film adaptation Wicked: Part One, which will be released in theaters on November 27
The dress was a significant departure elegant white Loewe dress she wore on the red carpet, which featured a delicate pleated skirt.
She added a cincher to highlight her trim waist, and she wore eye-catching custom split-toed Tabi shoes designed by Christian Louboutin for Maison Margiela.
Although most of her set featured her own music, she opened it on a magical note with Once Upon A Dream, which was featured in Disney's 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty.
The tune was adapted from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty ballet and featured lyrics by Jack Lawrence and Sammy Fain.
Although this year's theme isn't explicitly fairy tale–related, it feature connections to classic tales, making the song choice particularly apt.
Next up, she performed her hit Into You, which was featured on her 2016 album Dangerous Woman.
She jumped ahead to her chart-topping single 7 Rings, which was featured on her Thank U, Next album in 2019.
Ariana's next few songs were all taken from her latest release, Eternal Sunshine.
She sang the top 20 hit The Boy Is Mine, followed by her chart-topping hit We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love), as well as another number-one hit, the single Yes, And.
She wore an elegant white Loewe dress with a pleated skirt on the red carpet, but she changed into a sheer green bespoke Maison Margiela Artisanal outfit by John Galliano for the performance
Although most of her set at the Temple of Dendur featured her own music, she opened it on a magical note with Once Upon A Dream, which was featured in Disney's 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty
Ariana included hits from Dangerous Woman; Thank U, Next; and several songs from her latest LP, Eternal Sunshine
The former Nickelodeon star had one more ace up her sleeve — a guest appearance from her Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo.
Cynthia joined her for a duet of When You Believe from the animated film The Prince Of Egypt (1998).
The two had a tough act to follow, as the soundtrack selection was originally performed by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
Cynthia had her own eye-catching fashion with a red-and-white houndstooth dress interrupted by large rose designs, which was part of Thom Browne's Fall 2013 collection, according to Vogue.
Browne was a favorite of Cynthia that evening, as she previously made a splash on the red carpet with a suit-like dress with a partially cropped top from the fashion designer. It bared her toned midriff and featured with a long black skirt and train.
The striking look was decorated with glittering sequins and delicate pink rose petals, and she accessorized with a complementary pink handbag while wearing black patent leather platforms.
The two had plenty of backup, as they were joined by members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir.
Ariana's fancy fashion may have prevented her from dancing too enthusiastically, but she was backed up by a large troupe of 30 dancers.
The two divas will be featured in the upcoming Wicked: Part One, with Cynthia starring as the green-skinned witch Elphaba, later known as the Wicked Witch of the West, while Ariana costars as Galinda Upton, who is better known as Glinda the Good from L. Frank Baum's classic book series and the iconic Wizard Of Oz film.
The first half of the two-part film will be released in theaters on November 27 of this year.
Cynthia joined her for a duet of When You Believe from the animated film The Prince Of Egypt. The two had a tough act to follow, as the soundtrack selection was originally performed by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston
Cynthia had her own eye-catching fashion with a red-and-white houndstooth dress interrupted by large rose designs, which was part of Thom Browne's Fall 2013 collection, according to Vogue
Browne was a favorite of Cynthia that evening, as she previously made a splash on the red carpet with a suit-like partially cropped top that bared her toned midriff, along with a long black skirt and train
The Costume Institute's spring exhibition falls on the first Monday in May every year and is held at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This year, the exhibit is titled Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, while the dress code is The Garden of Time.
Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth are this year's co-chairs. Also on the committee is Vogue's Anna Wintour.
The honorary chairs for the evening are Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.
'This year's co-chairs reflect a variety of career achievements, and all have distinct style histories with the Met Gala,' Vogue shared.
The showcase will feature approximately 250 items drawn from The Costume Institute's permanent collection, with many of the pieces too fragile to ever be worn again, or even placed upright on a mannequin.
The pieces will be displayed using elements such as AI, GCI and more while playing up the themes of land, sea and sky.
'It is very much an ode to nature and the emotional poetics of fashion,' said Andrew Bolton, the Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute, of the upcoming exhibition.
Jennifer Lopez (pictured at the Met Gala 2023), Zendaya, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth are the 2024 Met Gala co-chairs
Zendaya (pictured at the 2019 Met Gala) will be in attendance with the dress code being The Garden of Time
Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth are set to put on edgy displays at the Met
Last year's gala honored late designer Karl Lagerfeld, with Jared Leto dressing up as the Chanel icon's beloved cat Choupette (pictured)
'One thing I hope this show will activate is that sensorial appreciation of fashion,' he added.
Guests expected to attend include the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Timothée Chalamet.
Gwendoline Christie, La La Anthony and Ashley Graham are hosting, while YouTuber Emma Chamberlain is expected to interview stars on the red carpet.
Last year's gala honored the late designer Karl Lagerfeld.
