Ciara, Jewel, Lil Jon, Shaggy, Busta Rhymes, and more performed during the 2025 edition of the holiday event. Why do singers lipsync during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Here's what stars have said Ciara, Jewel, Lil Jon, Shaggy, Busta Rhymes, and more performed during the 2025 edition of the holiday event. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiauthorphotoba4923fec03a4027868306485696ef41.jpg) Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at . Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more. EW's editorial guidelines November 27, 2025 12:03 p.m.

Ciara, Jewel, Lil Jon, Shaggy, Busta Rhymes, and more performed during the 2025 edition of the holiday event.

Why do singers lip-sync during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Here's what stars have said

Ciara, Jewel, Lil Jon, Shaggy, Busta Rhymes, and more performed during the 2025 edition of the holiday event.

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

November 27, 2025 12:03 p.m. ET

Ciara performs during the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Credit:

- Many stars lip-sync during their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade performances.

- EW explains why many pop singers opt for pre-recorded vocals at the event.

- Jewel, Ciara, Lil Jon, Shaggy, and more were featured at the 2025 edition of the holiday parade.

Yes, some of your favorite pop stars performed at the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And no, they probably weren't singing live. But, as explained by acts who've performed at the annual event in the past, there's a good reason as to why many recording artists don't perform live on the holiday stage.

After audiences lashed out on social media at Rita Ora's Thanksgiving Day Parade set in 2018, singer John Legend posted an explanation as to why stars don't actually sing while riding on floats.

"Fun fact. We all have to lip sync on this parade because the floats don't have the capacity to handle the sound requirements for a live performance. Hope y'all enjoyed it anyway," Legend posted on X in defense of Ora, moments before he also joined the parade to perform on a float, too.

Ciara performing during the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He added, "Know that if you come to my shows, the vocals are 100% live!"

Ora also posted to social media shortly after Legend commented on the NBC telecast, adding her own thoughts in response to Legend's initial message.

"Fun fact @johnlegend thank you for clarifying what I was about to also tweet," Ora wrote. "It's annoying for us but anyway! All my shows are 100 percent live always have been! When you come to a ORA show get ready! Back to holidays! Have a good one guys!"**

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Following her 2018 set, Kelly Clarkson noted that cold weather is a major concern for artists as well, as it can damage vocal mechanisms in the body. She called the event "a very cold Thanksgiving moment" for her, though she didn't perform on a float, but rather on a small, temporary stage.**

The 2025 parade featured numerous performances, ranging from Ciara, Lil Jon, and Jewel, to Shaggy, Busta Rhymes, and *One Battle After Another* actress Teyana Taylor, among others.**

** has reached out to representatives for the aforementioned stars, as well as to representatives for the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, for comment.

Luisa Sonza performs at 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Other performances at the 2025 edition included Cynthia Erivo's opening number and a performance by *Just in Time* Broadway stars Jonathan Groff, Sarah Hyland, and Sadie Dickerson, though their performances took place on the ground with different setups.

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The 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade also made headlines for reuniting former *Today* cohosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, who cohosted the telecast months after the latter exited her permanent post on the long-running morning talk show to help care for her daughter.

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Source: "EW Entertainment"

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Source: Entertainment

Published: November 30, 2025 at 07:24AM on Source: SHOWBIZ MAG

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