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Some performances are so electrifying, so intensely perfect, that the song alone seals the deal for a Tony Award win. Join us as we explore unforgettable moments when actors claimed Broadway’s highest honor through a single show-stopping number. From powerhouse vocals to dramatic storytelling, these songs captivated audiences and critics alike, making theatrical history with every note sung.
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00:00I'll return to my glory days.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:09And today, we're counting down our picks for the performers who delivered one show-stopping song so perfectly,
00:15there was no shadow of a doubt the Tony Award was as good as theirs.
00:20Sing up!
00:27Number 10. Daniel Radcliffe, Good Thing Going, Merrily We Roll Along.
00:32Radcliffe's turn in Merrily We Roll Along was the kind of Broadway surprise that makes theater fans sit up and
00:38take notice.
00:39It started out like a song. We started quiet and slow.
00:48With Good Thing Going, he left Harry Potter's wand behind and stepped into a world of wistful, grown-up longing.
00:55The song itself is a masterclass in bittersweet nostalgia, and Radcliffe's performance is all heart, like he's living every lyric.
01:02You never wanted enough, all right tough, I don't make that a crime.
01:13You can feel the ache of lost innocence and the hope that maybe, just maybe, things could have been different.
01:19His vulnerability and honesty remain front and center the whole time.
01:23In one song, Radcliffe proved he's not just a movie star, but a bona fide Broadway force.
01:28We had a good thing going, going, going on.
01:41Number 9. Joshua Henry, Wheels of a Dream, Ragtime.
01:46The 2026 revival had a banner year, earning four wins out of nine nominations, including Best Revival and Best Actress
01:55in a Musical for Casey Levy.
01:56There are people out there, who are afraid to feel smaller, who are afraid of tomorrow.
02:08But it was Joshua Henry's electrifying turn as Colehouse Walker Jr. and his take on Wheels of a Dream that
02:14truly left Broadway buzzing.
02:16Well, when he is old enough, I will show him America.
02:26This number, which he shares with Nichelle Lewis' Sarah, is undoubtedly the emotional heart of the production.
02:33Henry pours his soul into every note, likely drawing on his own experiences with fatherhood and the resilience of the
02:39human spirit.
02:40And the times are starting to roll, any man can get where he wants to, if he's got some fire
02:49in his soul.
02:50His rich baritone perfectly captures the hope and longing at the core.
02:54No wonder Tony voters couldn't look away.
02:57On the wheels, have a dream.
03:14Number 8.
03:15Heather Headley.
03:16Easy as life.
03:17Aida.
03:18Headley's performance in Aida is the kind of Broadway magic that leaves audiences breathless,
03:23bringing both vocal power and emotional sophistication to the role.
03:27All I have to do is pretend I never knew him on those very rare occasions when he steals into
03:37my heart.
03:40It's not just that Easy as Life is a big song.
03:43It's a moment when the character's pain, pride, and survival instinct collide.
03:47Headley sells every beat with absolute conviction.
03:50So the performance feels dramatic without becoming overblown.
03:53Oh, love that I wanted.
04:05Her voice could shake the rafters, but she uses that power with pinpoint precision,
04:11channeling every emotion straight into the audience's hearts.
04:14That combination of control, intensity, and heartbreak makes her performance as moving as it is unforgettable.
04:20Her Tony win was basically destiny fulfilled.
04:39Number 7.
04:41Idina Menzel.
04:42Defying Gravity.
04:43Wicked.
04:43Is there any song more synonymous with modern Broadway than this?
04:47Defying Gravity is the ultimate test of vocal stamina.
04:50And Idina Menzel set the bar at impossible heights.
05:08We're talking about constant tone shifts, an insane high belt range,
05:12and that iconic gravity-defying climax, all while she's physically suspended in the air.
05:18Menzel built the character from the ground up and turned what could have been a standard
05:22act one closer into a cultural phenomenon.
05:25So if you care to find me, look to the western sky.
05:31As someone told me lately, everyone deserves a chance to fly.
05:38Eight times a week, she delivered a performance that was technically demanding and nothing short of legendary.
05:44She gave the world a definitive, green-skinned icon who changed Broadway for good.
05:58Number 6. Alex Newell, independently owned, shocked.
06:02Stepping onto the Broadway stage with electric energy,
06:05Newell delivered a performance that was nothing short of a revelation.
06:08I'm independently owned and operated
06:12The only thing around here that's incorporated
06:16I do it all and it's fine by me
06:20Their rendition of Independently Owned became an instant showstopper,
06:24showcasing a powerhouse vocal range that seamlessly fused soul, blues, and bluegrass.
06:29Beyond their technical mastery, Newell brought an unapologetic, quote,
06:33big and beautiful confidence to the role of Lulu.
06:35A refreshing departure from the limiting tropes often forced upon plus-sized black characters.
06:40I won't change who I always been
06:43A W-O-M-A-N
06:48W-O-M-A-N
06:52By commanding the stage with magnetic presence,
06:55they turned a musical number into a cultural statement.
06:58Their historic Tony win remains a monumental milestone for non-binary representation,
07:02proving that true artistry lies in the power of being completely unapologetically yourself.
07:09Independently
07:09I
07:18Number 5. Zero Mostel
07:21If I Were a Rich Man
07:22Fiddler on the Roof
07:23Mostel's legendary turn as Tevye is nothing short of iconic.
07:27He created a character so vivid and human that audiences felt like they knew him personally.
07:32If I were a rich man
07:39All day long I'd pity, pity, pity, bum
07:42His take on If I Were a Rich Man became a total revelation,
07:47perfectly pairing brilliant comedic timing with profound, soulful humanity.
07:50By incorporating traditional cantorial stylings and his signature expressive physicality,
07:56Mostel imbued the character with a weary, authentic vulnerability that felt very real.
08:01I see her putting out nails
08:03And strutting like a peacock
08:05Boy, what a happy mood she's in
08:09Screaming at the servant's day and night
08:13His larger-than-life energy balanced the show's humor with heart-wrenching pathos,
08:18setting an enduring standard for the role.
08:20Mostel crafted a landmark performance that remains a cornerstone of American theater history
08:25and the absolute benchmark for generations of actors.
08:28If I were a wealthy man
08:38Number 4. Ben Vereen
08:40Magic to Do
08:41Pippin
08:42Vereen's Magic to Do is the kind of opening number that grabs you by the collar and dares you to
08:47look away.
08:47We've got magic to do
08:49Just for you
08:51We've got miracle plays to play
08:54We've got hearts to football
08:56Hearts to warm
08:58As the leading player, he oozes charm and mischief, keeping the audience guessing what lies in store with every sly
09:05look and perfectly timed gesture.
09:07His vocals are as smooth as silk, but always with just a hint of danger lurking beneath the surface.
09:13Join us, sit where everybody can see
09:19This isn't just about introducing the show, but setting the tone, pulling the strings, and commanding the stage with effortless
09:25authority.
09:26That blend of charisma and intrigue made his performance unforgettable, and his tony win was the cherry on top of
09:33a truly iconic turn.
09:49Number 3. Cynthia Erivo
09:51I'm Here
09:52The Color Purple
09:53Erivo's I'm Here was a theatrical gut punch that left audiences spellbound.
09:58Quite an accomplishment for a Broadway debut
10:21This is Celie's anthem of survival, and Erivo delivers it with a voice that can move mountains and mend broken
10:28hearts.
10:28She takes us on a journey from trembling vulnerability to a triumphant, soul-shaking crescendo, giving us gospel grit and
10:35the kind of vocal control that makes you sit up.
10:38And all the love, allow me to be
10:43Consent as tall as we told us three
10:48Every note is loaded with meaning, and every lyric a declaration that Celie, and Erivo herself, had arrived to claim
10:56her space.
10:57A tony win was inevitable.
10:59This was a debut for the ages, and Broadway hasn't been the same since.
11:05And I'm here
11:17Number 2. Sutton Foster
11:19Forget About the Boy
11:20Thoroughly Modern Millie
11:21Every once in a while, Broadway gives us a heartbreak song that trades tears for tap shoes, and Foster absolutely
11:28delivers with Forget About the Boy.
11:29No canary in a cage for me
11:34This canary's ready to fly free
11:39Instead of wallowing, she turns Millie's romantic disaster into a sparkling comedy routine packed with charm, confidence, and split-second
11:47comic timing.
11:48Foster flies through the lyrics with unbelievable ease, tossing out every line like she's working through her feelings with the
11:54audience.
11:55And hallelu
11:56Tell me, Mr. Long are true
11:59I'll find myself another foe
12:01Who I know is no rover
12:04What makes the performance so unforgettable is how human it feels underneath all the dazzling showmanship.
12:10It's funny, empowering, and bursting with personality.
12:14No wonder critics crowned her Broadway's ultimate modern leading lady and handed her that Tony Award.
12:19Forget about the boy
12:22Forget about the boy
12:24Forget about the boy
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13:04When people talk about a star-making performance, they are usually using it as a figure of speech.
13:10When it comes to this moment, it's basically a scientific fact.
13:26Holiday starts from a place of desperation and climbs into a stratosphere of sound that simply shouldn't be humanly possible.
13:33By the end, we feel like we're watching a woman losing everything and fighting for her very existence.
13:50It almost made us forget we were in a theater or watching on YouTube.
13:54Every single person watching knew that we were witnessing a force of nature.
13:58She didn't just win a Tony.
13:59She cemented herself as a Broadway legend before the curtain even fell on her first act.
14:05You're gonna love me!
14:20Which single song performance do you think deserved a Tony Award all on its own?
14:24Let us know in the comments.
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