Tony Awards 2025 Host Cynthia Erivo Kicks Off Ceremony
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/cynthia-erivo-tony-awards-1-060825-89cd09a945004ed5b8533f5e52d512d8.jpg)
NEED TO KNOW
- Cynthia Erivo is the host of the 78th Tony Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall on June 8
- Her number kicking off the ceremony involved a catchy original song with the lyrics, “Sometimes all you need is a song”
- The Wicked movie star previously won a Tony Award for The Color Purple
Cynthia Erivo kicked off the 2025 Tony Awards with a spectacular musical number that brought those in the audience to their feet.
Opening the Sunday, June 8 ceremony honoring the best of Broadway, the Wicked star, 38, commanded the stage at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.
The sequence opened with a camera following Erivo out of her dressing room as she made her way to the stage and encountered Oprah Winfrey, who advised her, “Be yourself.”
Wearing a glittery red dress with a white collar, Erivo then sang an original number with lyrics including, “It’s our stories and our songs that let us soar.” The actress was joined by an ensemble of robed choir members.
The musical moment honored many of this year’s Tony contenders with shoutouts, including Gypsy‘s Audra McDonald, Good Night, and Good Luck‘s George Clooney, The Picture of Dorian Gray‘s Sarah Snook and Cole Escola’s play Oh, Mary!
Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Adam Lambert and more even joined in the fun when Erivo brought the microphone into the audience.
Erivo is no stranger to the Tonys, having won a statuette in 2016 for her lead performance in a revival of The Color Purple, her Broadway debut. The London-born actress previously starred on the West End in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, I Can’t Sing and Sister Act.
Theo Wargo/Getty
“I am so proud and excited to take on this glorious honor,” Erivo said in a statement when her hosting gig was announced. “I am looking forward to ushering the theater community at large through a night that celebrates the wonderful performances we have witnessed throughout the year. I hope I can rise to the occasion.”
Past Tony Award ceremony hosts include Neil Patrick Harris, Rosie O’Donnell, Hugh Jackman, and, for the last three years in a row, Ariana DeBose.
This year’s Tony nominations, announced May 1, made first-time nominees out of George Clooney, Nicole Scherzinger, Daniel Dae Kim, Sarah Snook, Cole Escola and more.
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Oscar-nominated Erivo will next return as Elphaba, Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West, in Wicked: For Good, the second installment in director Jon M. Chu’s two-part screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical costarring Ariana Grande. The sequel is in theaters Nov. 21. She can also be seen playing the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl this summer.
See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 78th annual Tony Awards, hosted by Erivo at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall and airing on CBS and Paramount+.
Let’s be honest—no matter how stressful the day gets, a good viral video can instantly lift your mood. Whether it’s a funny pet doing something silly, a heartwarming moment between strangers, or a wild dance challenge, viral videos are what keep the internet fun and alive.