Lorna Luft is feeling emotional from the Academy Awards’ Wizard of Oz homage.
The daughter of Judy Garland, who portrayed Dorothy in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz reacted to the 2025 Oscars Wicked medley, which featured Ariana Grande singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“Thank you to @arianagrande, @cynthiaerivo, & @theacademy for honoring my mother’s memory so beautifully,” Luft, 72, wrote on her Instagram Stories on Monday, March 3. “Myself and my family are very grateful.”
“All Love, Lorna,” she signed off, with a heart emoji.
For the Wicked medley that kicked off the 2025 Academy Awards, Grande, 31, who portrays Glinda in the 2024 musical adaptation, sang the classic song Garland’s Dorothy sings before she’s transported to Oz.
Grande’s dress also included a nod to Garland’s character’s iconic ruby slippers. The singer wore a shimmering ruby red gown with matching heels adorned with bows and a cascading tulle skirt. Designed by Daniel Roseberry, the dress had 150,000 Siam sequins.
On the back of the dress was a third shoe, a tonal 3D trompe l’oeil placed between her shoulder blades.
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Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, sang “Home” from the 1975 Broadway showThe Wiz. Erivo, 38, wore a strapless gown similar to the one Diana Ross wore in the musical’s 1978 movie adaptation.
Erivo and Grande then joined together to sing “Defying Gravity,” which closes out the first act of the Wicked musical. Grande stepped aside for the final high notes. Both actresses were nominated for Academy Awards for their roles in the film.
Wicked was nominated for 10 Oscars including best picture and best original score.
The film did take home two statuettes Sunday evening — Best Costume Design for Paul Tazewell and Best Production Design for Lee Sandeles and Nathan Crowley.
Tazewell made history that evening as the first Black man to win an Oscar in that category.
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Wicked is now available to purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV+. It will be available to stream on Peacock on March 21.
The second half of the adaptation, Wicked: For Good, premieres in theaters on Nov. 21, 2025.
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