‘The Voice’ finalists belt out ‘Defying Gravity’ from ‘Wicked’: ‘What an opening to the show!’ [Watch]

“The Voice” Season 26 finale opened on Tuesday night with the finalists performing one of the most popular songs in the world today: “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked.” (Read our minute-by-minute live blog.) The blockbuster film from Universal Pictures has been raking in the dough since it debuted in theaters in November, and it’s now an Oscar frontrunner in several categories. Watch “The Voice’s” version of “Defying Gravity” above.

The eight finalists (and their coaches) are: Sofronio Vasquez and Shye of Team Michael Bublé, Danny Joseph and Adam Bohanan of Team Reba McEntire, Jeremy Beloate and Christina Eagle of Team Snoop Dogg, and Sydney Sterlace and Jan Dan of Team Gwen Stefani. Christina, Jan, and Adam were booted last week, leaving just the other five artists in the running to be added to “The Voice” winners list.

“What an opening to the show! That was incredible,” host Carson Daly remarked after the eight singers finished their rousing rendition of “Defying Gravity.” Later in the show, Sofronio, Shye, Danny, Jeremy, and Sydney each performed one last time with their coaches before finding out their individual fates.

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The iconic song originated in Stephen Schwartz‘s 2003 version of “Wicked” on Broadway, with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth playing Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (Glinda the Good Witch), respectively. The 2024 movie version cast Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in those two roles. The lyrics to the ballad explain how Elphaba wants to embrace her individuality and ends with her defying gravity by flying on a broomstick for the first time.

There were no broomsticks in “The Voice” finale on Dec. 10, but there were plenty of microphones. In fact, the superstar celebrities who performed during the two-hour finale included Kelly Clarkson, Dan + Shay, Myles Smith, Riley Green & Ella Langley, Tears For Fears, Season 24 winner Huntley, and Season 25 winner Asher HaVon.

Who did YOU think deserved to win Season 26 of “The Voice”? And are you in love with the finalists’ version of “Defying Gravity”? Sound off down below.

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