An opening number is a delicate act: It needs to welcome new audiences in, have plenty of in-jokes for superfans, and show off the host's talent. So how did 2025 Tony Awards host Cynthia Erivo do? It was a particularly rousing opener, featuring a preamble inspired by the second act of the Sunset Blvd. revival (and which featured cameos by Oprah Winfrey, Larry Owens, Tim Murray, Hwaboon, and a cardboard cutout of Andrew Lloyd Webber).
Then Erivo took the stage to sing an original song by Tony Award-winning songwriters Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman—joined by the Broadway Inspirational Voices.
Here are the lyrics, courtesy of the songwriters themselves. Watch the full number in the video above.
"SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED IS A SONG"
(music and lyrics by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman)
Cynthia Erivo:
Some folks land all the punchlines
And barely break a sweat
While others can do patter
As they double-pirouette
Whether comedy or kickline
If you’re doin’ you, you can’t go wrong
And sometimes all you need
Sometimes all you need is a song
Some moments call for grandeur
As mighty trumpets blare
Some moments call for sleight of hand…
Well, I can’t help you there (nails)
And sometimes it’s confetti
Shot from cannons firin’ steady all night long
But sometimes all you need
Sometimes all you need is a song
Now we love a big production
With sets that touch the sky
While other times it’s true that less is more
Well, above that big production
If you really wanna fly (with a wicked wink!)
It’s our stories and our songs that let us soar
So I took in all the voices
That told me what to do
And I looked through all the choices
And I found one thing is true
It’s really very simple:
It’s the thing that makes you sing
That makes you strong
And sometimes all you need
Yes, sometimes all you need…is…a…song!
Broadway Inspirational Voices:
Sometimes all you need is a song
It’s all you need
Sometimes all you need is a song
It’s all you need…
And sometimes all you need
Is some first-time nominees
Cynthia:
Or when Audra glows
As Mama Rose
BIV:
And we all sing out, Louise
Cynthia:
Sing out louise!
BIV:
Sometimes all you need
Is a Purpose to attend
Or a story of robotic love
Cynthia:
And its maybe happy end
BIV:
Sometimes all you need
Is to belt as blood drips down
And as smash pops off,
Well, here comes Groff
Cynthia:
‘cause Johnny’s back in town
BIV:
Oh, sometimes all you need
Cynthia:
Is all this talent on display
BIV:
Gimme Odenkirk
Cynthia:
Or watch Cole werk!
BIV:
At Oh, Mary’s cabaret
Or dead divas who lit’rally slay
Or dead outlaws who slowly decay
Cynthia:
Clooney, Kieran, Downey, Denzel
All:
Half of Hollywood did a play!
While the Cuban rhythms sway (Boop!)
There’s a Mincemeat matinee (see Boop!)
Cynthia:
“Shiv Roy” is Dorian Gray
All
You get it all on Broadway!
Cynthia:
So when the world is lookin’ gloomy
Well, let that curtain rise
‘cause the antidote is to find your note
As we all harmonize
We’re here and holdin’ space
‘Cause Broadway is a place we all belong
Where sometimes all you need
Sometimes all you need
Yeah, sometimes all we need is a song
All:
Sometimes all you need is a song
It’s all you need
Sometimes all you need is a song
It’s all you need…
Cynthia:
Sometimes all we need is a song
All:
Welcome to the 78th Annual Tony Awards!
See Erivo's opening monologue (which featured jokes by Alex Edelman) below.
