Cynthia Erivo opened the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the superstar vocalist was caught on camera sharing a special moment with another A-lister who shares her passion for music.
People got footage of the 38-year-old “Wicked” star spotting Queen Latifah in the crowd during the event, and joyfully sending her an excited hug. Queen Latifah, who was bundled up in a cozy puffer jacket and knitted beanie, grinned and waved back.
Earlier this year, Queen Latifah made a rare appearance with her son at a WNBA game.
Cynthia Erivo Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Performance Video
Erivo opened the parade with a rendition of “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. The actress, whose role as Elphaba in the first installment of “Wicked” earned her an 2025 Oscar nomination, was dressed in a coordinated maroon look that consisted of a floor-length coat and matching hat.
She completed her look with silver hoops and her signature stiletto nails.
The parade comes six days after the theatrical release of “Wicked: For Good,” the second installment of the franchise that covers the second act of the beloved Broadway musical.
The film is a huge box office success, according to The Numbers. The outlet reported two days after the film’s release that ticket sales were set to surpass $150 million by the end of the weekend. The success gave the film the second-best weekend of 2025, only being beaten out by April’s “A Minecraft Movie.”
Judging by the fan reactions, the multi-talented performer stole the show. One commented on YouTube that “no one really cared about any other performance this year.”
Another joked, “Honestly Cynthia Erivo could sing a breakup letter to me and I’d still love her.”
“So gorgeous! Her voice gives me chills,” remarked someone else.
Fans Reacted to Cynthia Erivo’s Moment With Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is beloved for the sparkle she brings to such musical comedies as “Hairspray,” “Joyful Noise,” and “Chicago.” More recently, the Newark, New Jersey brought her star power to Fox’s “Empire” in a 2017 appearance.
Fans were thrilled to see Erivo and Queen Latifah’s warm moment. One commented on People’s Instagram clip of the interaction, “Royalty recognizing royalty, we love to see it.”
Another chimed in, “That. Was. Everything!”
Someone else admired Queen Latifah for spending a lowkey time enjoying the festivities. They wrote, “Let’s talk about Queen Latifah sitting in the crowd watching the parade with everyone else!”
