Keke Palmer, the queen of making you say, “Wait, what?” has blessed us with her latest hot take, and it’s about none other than Wicked’s iconic showstopper, “Defying Gravity.” According to Keke, Elphaba’s high-flying anthem isn’t just a Broadway banger—it’s a “slave hymn.” Yes, you read that right.
The 31-year-old actress dropped this bombshell during an MTV interview that honestly feels like it should be submitted to the Library of Congress for safekeeping. She kicked things off by channeling her inner Elphaba with an exaggerated, yet oddly compelling, “Uh-aaahh-uh-aaahhahhhahhh!!” before casually declaring, “That’s a slave hymn.”
When Keke Speaks, We Listen (and Google Lyrics)
“Come on now! When she got up there and told those people—Y’ALL,” Keke passionately explained, her voice reaching the kind of octave only Elphaba herself could rival. “It’s really good, and y’all know I ain’t lying.”
She wasn’t just talking, either. Keke was preaching. “You have GOT to save space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity,’” she insisted, probably referring to lines like “I’m through accepting limits, ’cause someone says they’re so.” And honestly, now that she’s said it, it does sound like a battle cry for freedom.
The Energy? Unstoppable. The Confidence? Unmatched.
Keke then hit us with the emotional gut punch: “That — it makes me feel like you can’t stop me! No one is gonna bring me down!” Someone, please give her a Tony Award for this sermon.
And she wasn’t alone in her conviction. Her One of Them Days co-star, SZA, and producer extraordinaire, Issa Rae, sat there absolutely shooketh. Their faces? A mix of “What did she just say?” and “Wait, she’s lowkey right.”
Now, the internet is buzzing with debates, memes, and a newfound appreciation for Wicked. Somewhere, Idina Menzel is sipping tea and nodding in agreement.
So, the next time you’re belting out “Defying Gravity” in your car, in the shower, or during karaoke (no judgment), just remember: according to Keke Palmer, you’re not just singing. You’re participating in a freedom anthem. ✊
@mtv NO ONE’S GONNA BRING @Keke Palmer DOWN 🧹✨ #KekePalmer & #SZA make the perfect pair in #IssaRae’s #OneOfThemDays ♬ original sound – MTV