Survivors’ Anthem Series #17: “Defying Gravity” - Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Lea Michelle, Chris Colfer (Wicked)
- Shannon Brown
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
The Moment You Decide You’re Done Staying Small
Some survivor anthems are about healing.
Some are about finding your voice.
And some are about the moment you stop apologizing for who you are.
This is Survivors’ Anthem # 17:
“Defying Gravity” - Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Lea Michelle, Chris Colfer (Wicked)
And this one lives in a very special place in my heart.
Wicked Has Always Been Different
Wicked isn’t just a musical to me.
It’s a story about acceptance.
About perspective.
About standing up for what’s right even when it costs you something.
The music is empowering, yes.
But the message runs deeper:
You don’t have to shrink yourself to make other people comfortable.
You don’t have to accept the version of you that the world tries to define.
You are allowed to rise.
The Survivor Connection
There comes a moment in healing when you realize something powerful:
You were never too much.
You were never the problem.
You were never wrong for wanting better.
And when Elphaba sings “Defying Gravity,” it doesn’t feel like fantasy.
It feels like truth.
It feels like the moment a survivor says:
I’m done staying quiet.
I’m done pretending I don’t see what’s wrong.
I’m done apologizing for taking up space.
Speaking up finally felt right to me.
Not easy.
Not comfortable.
But right.
And that’s what this song sounds like, righteousness wrapped in courage.
Seeing It on Broadway
I recently saw Wicked on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater in New York City with one of my best friends.
It was magical.
There is something about sitting in that theater, hearing that orchestra swell, and feeling the energy of the crowd during “Defying Gravity.” Full body goosebumps.
It hits differently when you’ve lived through something.
It feels like victory.
And being there with my friend made it even more meaningful.
We share similar pasts.
We understand the parts of each other that not everyone sees.
They are Elphaba to my Glinda.
Different strengths.
Different personalities.
But deeply connected.
And watching that story unfold together felt like a reminder that survivors don’t have to rise alone.
The Broadway & Film Magic
And I have to say, the movies did not let down.
To the Glindas - Kristin Chenoweth and Ariana Grande - thank you for bringing such light, humor, and heart to this role.
To the Elphabas - Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo - thank you for embodying strength, vulnerability, and unapologetic power in your renditions of “Defying Gravity.” Each performance carries its own kind of electricity.
And I can’t leave out Lea Michele and Chris Colfer for their version on Glee.,a show that helped me heal in so many ways. That duet brought the song to another generation and reminded so many of us that being different isn’t something to hide.
Each version has carried this anthem forward in a new way.
Each one has helped someone feel seen.
Acceptance and Advocacy
Wicked is ultimately about seeing people for who they truly are, not the labels placed on them.
And that resonates deeply with my advocacy work.
Children who suffer abuse are often misunderstood.
Survivors of domestic violence are often judged instead of believed.
But acceptance starts with truth.
Standing up for what is right sometimes means standing apart.
And that’s scary.
But it’s also powerful.
“Defying Gravity” reminds me that sometimes growth requires stepping into the unknown, even if others don’t understand it yet.
A Thank You
To the creators of Wicked - thank you.
Thank you for telling a story that reclaims the “villain.” Thank you for giving voice to the misunderstood. Thank you for creating a musical that empowers people to question narratives and choose integrity.
And to every Elphaba and Glinda out there finding strength in friendship, your bond matters.
What’s Next in the Survivors’ Anthem Series
Each Survivors’ Anthem post shares:
a song
why it mattered
and how music helped carry healing forward
If you’ve ever felt different… misunderstood… or like the world tried to define you unfairly,
Maybe it’s time to defy gravity.
Maybe it’s time to rise.
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