Do the performers lip sync in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual event filled with giant balloons, huge crowds, and unforgettable performances – although not all of them are as live as they seem.

The popular Thanksgiving tradition began in 1924 and has since featured hundreds of iconic performances from Broadway stars, solo artists and musical sensations, including Miley Cyrus in 2008 and Ariana Grande in 2013.

The performances have captivated audiences and viewers at home for decades, especially as the singers often battle the elements (including freezing temperatures, rain and even snow) while performing their skills on moving floats. Because of this, many artists at the annual parade lip-synced to pre-recorded tracks, which surprised some fans in 2018 when a technical glitch made it clear that not all of the performances were live.

In response, Macy’s released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) apologizing for the disruptions that affected performances.

“During today’s NBC broadcast of the #MacysParade, several recording artists experienced technical difficulties that negatively impacted their performance. We apologize and want fans to know that these issues were beyond the artist’s control,” the post reads.

Since then, some artists have continued lip syncing, while others have confirmed their singing is live – building anticipation for the 2024 New York City parade, which will feature renowned singers like Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo.

So why do some singers lip sync at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Here’s what previous artists have said about singing live on the big day.

What did artists say about lip syncing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

In 2018, fans were surprised when Rita Ora was seen strikingly lip-syncing her song “Let You Love Me.” Following the event, John Legend came to her defense on X and shared with her the “fun fact” why lip syncing is common in the parade.

“In this parade we all have to lip sync because the floats don’t have the capacity to handle the sound requirements of a live performance % live!” the singer wrote.

After writing his post, Ora replied: “Fun fact @johnlegend, thanks for clarifying what I was trying to tweet too. But it’s still annoying for us! All my shows are 100 percent live, it’s always been that way! If you come to an ORA show, get ready!”

Many fans expressed their support, noting the freezing temperatures that day, while others questioned whether the “All of Me” singer was simply moving his mouth during the lip sync or was still singing.

Legend clarified: “I sang exactly as I would have if you could hear me. I think that’s the only way to make it believable. But I’m not an expert in these things.”

What have artists said about singing live?

After rumors of all the artists lip-syncing surfaced this year, Kelly Clarkson quickly confirmed that her performance – and Brynn Cartelli’s – was live.

“Um, I don’t know if you all know this, but that was live! Brynn Cartelli, thank you – sing with me in this cold weather. “It’s so cold in New York,” he said American Idol alum wrote on Instagram, per E! News. “I just wanted to let you know that you all probably thought Brynn Cartelli sounded so good, but that was live too. So Brynn Cartelli is just rocking these runs this morning. I didn’t even give these runs this morning.” . I was like, no, happy Thanksgiving everyone!”

So can performers choose whether to sing live or lip-sync?

While it appears that certain performers have chosen to sing live and others have lip-synced in the past, it is unclear whether they have a choice.

Macy’s did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment at this time.

Who will perform in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature a star-studded lineup of performers.

Tony Award winner Menzel is scheduled to appear on the Bronx Zoo’s “Wondrous World of Wildlife” float and was seen rehearsing a song from her upcoming Broadway musical Redwood.

Additionally, T-Pain will make his Macy’s parade debut while aboard turkey brand Jennie-O’s float.

“I have a few surprises in store to make it a lovely Turkey Day and celebrate the start of the holiday season!” the rapper said in a statement, according to CBS News.

They will be joined by Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue and Billy Porter, who will sing outside Macy’s iconic flagship store in Herald Square.

The lineup includes other acclaimed talents such as Lea Salonga, Rachel Platten, Dan + Shay, Dasha, Ariana Madix, Cynthia Erivo and Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, among others.