Ariana Grande celebrates New York's reopening with a surprise treat

New York, New York – Ariana Grande said "thank you, next" to New York City's Covid lockdown restrictions with a special sendoff.

Ariana Grande had some fun on The Late Late Show with James Corden in a New York City tribute.
Ariana Grande had some fun on The Late Late Show with James Corden in a New York City tribute.  © Collage: Juan Muñoz / Screenshot/Instagram/arianagrande

The newly married star certainly had something to sing about!

New York scored a major pandemic win on Tuesday as Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that 70% of adults in the state have now received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. As promised, he officially lifted the majority of remaining social gathering restrictions and most coronavirus protocols.

Not only did the Big Apple light up the sky with a pop-up fireworks display on Tuesday night, but it also got some unexpected entertainment to accompany the celebrations.

Cavinder twins leave fans feeling nostalgic with viral Miami TikTok!
Cavinder twins Cavinder twins leave fans feeling nostalgic with viral Miami TikTok!

Ariana Grande performed a previously unannounced musical number with host James Corden on The Late Late Show.

"Surprise!" The Late Late Show revealed on its Instagram of the quickly-put-together extravaganza.

Entitled No Lockdowns Anymore, the two sang about their excitement over the city's reopening and their elaborate plans of bottomless brunching, gym workouts, and movie theater outings becoming a reality.

"So let's hit the club, or get drunk and get matching tattoos!" Ariana jokingly sang in the bubbly bit.

On Wednesday, she shared clips and photos of the TV spot with her 243 million Instagram followers.

For the occasion, she sported a bright yellow Versace mini dress, matching yellow tights, and sky-high platform kicks.

Ariana Grande is a Broadway musical veteran

New York City lit up the night sky on Tuesday with surprise fireworks over the East River (l) and its trademark colors displayed on the Empire State Building (r).
New York City lit up the night sky on Tuesday with surprise fireworks over the East River (l) and its trademark colors displayed on the Empire State Building (r).  © Collage: Juan Muñoz / Lena Grotticelli

"Fun with my friend @j_corden! Tune in," she wrote of the performance. "P.s. There may even be a very special, heart attack provoking cameo made by a Tony Award-winning friend of mine!"

She referred to a guest appearance by Marissa Jaret Winokur, star of the Broadway musical Hairspray– from which the clip's parodied tune of Good Morning Baltimore is from.

Ariana herself is no stranger to Hairspray: She played Penny Pingleton in Hairspray Live! on NBC in 2016. She also starred as a child actor in the Broadway musical 13 before her pop music career took off.

The star sang and danced her heart out once again in honor of New York's reopening, and said she can't wait to make new memories. But only, as she pointed out in the clip, with people who "got the vaccine."

Cover photo: Collage: Juan Muñoz / Screenshot/Instagram/arianagrande

More on Ariana Grande: