Broadway actor and singer Joshua Henry performed Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” on the Met Gala carpet [1].

The performance served as a musical homage to Houston and transformed the arrival area into a live spectacle to kick off the event [2, 3].

Henry took the stage on the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City [4, 5]. The musical number featured a 12-person choir that accompanied the singer [6].

The 2026 Met Gala took place on the first Monday in May [7]. The event is widely regarded as one of the most significant annual gatherings of fashion and celebrity in the U.S.

Henry's appearance combined the high-fashion expectations of the evening with the theatricality of his Broadway background. By utilizing the carpet as a stage, the performance shifted the traditional focus from static photography to a live musical experience [2, 3].

“Joshua Henry performed Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” on the Met Gala carpet”

The integration of a live musical performance by a Broadway professional into the Met Gala's arrival sequence signals a shift toward more experiential elements at the event. By blending a high-profile tribute to Whitney Houston with the traditional red carpet, the organizers leveraged theatrical production to increase the event's immediate digital and emotional impact.