Judy Garland's Daughter Lorna Luft Weighs in on Ariana Grande's 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' 2025 Oscars Performance

Mar. 15, 2025

Lorna Luftis feeling emotional from the Academy Awards’Wizard of Ozhomage.

The daughter ofJudy Garland, who portrayed Dorothy in the 1939 filmThe Wizard of Ozreacted to the2025 OscarsWickedmedley, which featuredAriana Grandesinging “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

“Thank you to @arianagrande, @cynthiaerivo, & @theacademy for honoring my mother’s memory so beautifully,” Luft, 72, wrote on herInstagram Storieson Monday, March 3. “Myself and my family are very grateful.”

“All Love, Lorna,” she signed off, with a heart emoji.

Judy Garland; Ariana Grande.Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

For theWickedmedley 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.

On the back of the dress was a third shoe, a tonal 3D trompe l’oeil placed between her shoulder blades.

Ariana Grande in 2025.Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty

Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty

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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 oneDiana Rosswore in the musical’s 1978 movie adaptation.

Erivo and Grande then joined together to sing"Defying Gravity,“which closes out the first act of theWickedmusical. Grande stepped aside for the final high notes. Both actresses werenominated for Academy Awardsfor their roles in the film.

Lorna Luft in 2024.Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Wickedwas nominated for 10 Oscars including best picture and best original score.

The film did take home two statuettes Sunday evening — Best Costume Design forPaul Tazewelland Best Production Design for Lee Sandeles and Nathan Crowley.

Tazewell made history that eveningas the first Black man to win an Oscar in that category.

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The second half of the adaptation,Wicked: For Good, premieres in theaters on Nov. 21, 2025.

source: people.com