Cynthia Erivo completely stole the show on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with her powerhouse voice during a special Broadway edition of Musical Genre Challenge. On November 14, 2024, she stepped onto the stage, ready to take on the challenge—and let’s just say, Jimmy Fallon never stood a chance!
The game started with some fun. Erivo kicked things off by singing All That Jazz in a country style, which had the audience laughing. Fallon, always up for a challenge, responded by turning Don’t Cry for Me Argentina into a full-on ‘90s boy band performance, dancing and singing with all his energy. But then, Erivo took the mic again, and everything changed.
She began to sing The Sound of Music—but this wasn’t the version anyone expected. She transformed the classic song into a smooth R&B and pop masterpiece. The moment she hit the first note, the crowd went wild! It was like she had taken a song from 1959 and made it feel brand new. She owned the stage, effortlessly blending soul and power into every note. By the time she finished, the audience was on their feet. Even Fallon had to admit defeat, throwing his hands up and exclaiming, “Print that, I would listen to that. I love that, c’mon!”
The performance became an instant hit online. Just six weeks after it was uploaded to YouTube, it had already racked up 1.5 million views. Fans flooded the comments section, praising Erivo’s talent. One viewer wrote, “Something that makes Cynthia so different from other singers is that she’s extremely versatile. She can sing any and every genre of music effortlessly. She is unlike any singer of our time.” Another fan begged, “I want ‘The Sound of Music’ as R&B Pop in my Spotify ASAP.”
This wasn’t the only time Erivo went viral in 2024. Earlier in the year, she performed Killing Me Softly as a duet with American Broadway star Joaquina Kalukango at the Kennedy Center. Their soulful, breathtaking performance blew everyone away, and the video quickly gained 3.7 million views.
Cynthia Erivo isn’t just a singer—she’s a true star. Born on January 8, 1987, in London to Nigerian parents, she has been dazzling audiences for years. She made her debut on the West End in 2011 with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and then took Broadway by storm in The Color Purple from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, she expanded into movies, and by 2019, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her incredible performance as Harriet Tubman in Harriet. Her acting career has only grown since then. She even played Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha, earning an Emmy nomination for her powerful portrayal.
With a voice that can conquer any genre and a talent that shines on both stage and screen, Cynthia Erivo continues to prove that she is unstoppable. Whether it’s Broadway, film, or an unforgettable night on The Tonight Show, one thing is clear—when Erivo sings, the world listens!
