Sometimes all you need is a song — but a little support from Oprah Winfrey and Adam Lambert doesn’t hurt, either. Cynthia Erivo opened the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday night (June 8) with a show-stopping number featuring epic cameos from both the talk show legend and American Idol alum.
Just before taking the stage in a glittering red gown, the Wicked star — who made her hosting debut at this year’s ceremony — ran into Winfrey, who gave her some sage advice. “The only thing you need to do is just be yourself,” the mogul said before offering up her pointer finger to Erivo, who then hilariously grasped it as a tribute to her viral 2024 “holding space” meme with Ariana Grande.
Erivo then embarked on a vocally stunning musical performance of an original song to start the show, during which she shouted out many of the night’s honorees and repeated the phrase, “Sometimes all you need is a song.” Toward the end of the number, she stepped out into the audience at New York City’s Radio Music Hall and prompted some of the ceremony’s all-star guests to sing the same line. Kristin Chenoweth and Aaron Tveit both gave pitch-perfect on-the-spot deliveries as Erivo held out her microphone to them, but the most memorable was definitely Lambert, who blew the crowd away with spontaneous, dexterous riffs.
The Pinocchio actress ended the number back on stage with a full gospel choir backing her up, earning a standing ovation from the crowd. Then it was off to the races, with Erivo helming the program as Darren Criss, Nicole Scherzinger, Cole Escola, Sarah Snook and more all took home statuettes for their performances in various Broadway shows. Maybe Happy Ending won best musical, while the Scherzinger-led Sunset Blvd. won best revival of a musical and Purpose won best play.
Erivo’s hosting debut comes just one week after she appeared on the cover of Billboard, and two days after she dropped her long-awaited studio album, I Forgive You. In August, she’ll play the titular role in a three-night production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl, appearing alongside Lambert, who will portray Judas.
Watch Erivo’s opening number at the 2025 Tony Awards below.
