Pentatonix Creates a Viral Christmas Moment with “Defying Gravity x Go the Distance” and a Crowd Choir
What began as a holiday concert performance quickly became one of the most talked-about Pentatonix moments of the 2023 Christmas season.
During the group’s Christmas livestream event, Grammy-winning a cappella sensation Pentatonix delivered a breathtaking mashup of Defying Gravity from Wicked and Go the Distance from Disney’s Hercules. But it wasn’t just the flawless vocals of the five performers that captivated viewers around the world—it was the audience itself.
As Scott Hoying and Kirstin Maldonado traded soaring melodies from two beloved musical-theater anthems, thousands of fans inside the arena became an unexpected extension of the performance. Guided by the group, the crowd transformed into a massive live choir, filling the venue with layers of harmony that elevated the emotional power of the mashup. The moment quickly spread across TikTok and YouTube, where clips amassed hundreds of thousands of views and generated enthusiastic reactions from fans.
The performance blended Broadway drama with Disney-inspired hope, creating a musical conversation between two songs centered on perseverance, dreams, and self-belief. As the arrangement built toward its climax, the audience’s voices merged with Pentatonix’s signature harmonies, producing a stadium-sized sound that felt both intimate and epic. Viewers online praised the spontaneous choir effect, with many describing it as one of the most emotional live moments of the tour.
Pentatonix has long been known for turning audiences into part of the show, often encouraging fans to sing complex harmonies during concerts. That unique connection between performers and audience was on full display during this unforgettable Christmas performance.
More than a mashup, “Defying Gravity x Go the Distance” became a celebration of community, proving that sometimes the most powerful voice in the room is not a soloist—but thousands of people singing together as one.