Defying Gravity Grammy history was made as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo won the first award of the night at the 2026 Grammy pre-telecast ceremony.
The 2026 Grammy Awards officially kicked off with a major musical moment before the televised broadcast even began. The first award presented during the Grammy pre-telecast Premiere Ceremony went to “Defying Gravity,” performed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, which won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
The early win immediately set the tone for Grammy Sunday, giving the Wicked soundtrack a high-profile victory before the main ceremony aired later that evening. This stands in contrast to the Oscar nominations, in which Wicked: For Good received no nominations.
First Grammy Award of the Night
The Premiere Ceremony, which takes place ahead of the televised Grammy Awards, is where the Recording Academy presents the majority of its categories. The first award handed out during the ceremony was Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, awarded to Grande and Erivo for their powerful rendition of “Defying Gravity.” Neither artist was present to accept the award in person, but the announcement marked the earliest win of the night and quickly became a standout headline as Grammy coverage got underway.
Defying Gravity Grammy: A Standout Performance from Wicked
“Defying Gravity,” originally from the Broadway musical Wicked, gained renewed attention thanks to its performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for the upcoming film adaptation. The song’s dramatic vocals and theatrical scale helped it stand out in a competitive pop category, earning the duo one of the night’s earliest honors. The Grammy win further cements the cultural impact of the Wicked soundtrack.
What Is the Grammy Premiere Ceremony?
The Grammy Premiere Ceremony is a long-standing part of Grammy day, celebrating technical, genre-specific, and collaborative categories before the main broadcast. In total, dozens of awards are presented during the pre-telecast event, which is typically streamed online for fans. While the biggest awards are saved for primetime television, the Premiere Ceremony often delivers some of the day’s most surprising and noteworthy wins.
Defying Gravity Grammy: The Night Continues
Following the Premiere Ceremony, the main Grammy Awards broadcast airs later in the evening, featuring major performances and the presentation of the night’s top categories. With “Defying Gravity” already earning an early win, all eyes are now on whether the Wicked soundtrack will continue its success as the night unfolds with more Defying Gravity Grammy wins.
For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.
Expertise. Ease. Value.
Ready for your bucket list trip? Our trusted partner, MEI-Travel, will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations.
Contact for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
