3 Moments from Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade You Wish Did Not Happen 

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a tradition for decades. Every year, millions of people tune in to watch the giant balloons float through the streets of New York City, enjoy performances by top artists, and see the most famous floats pass by.

But like any live event, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. And in 2024, we got a few unforgettable moments that we’ll never quite forget — mostly because they were a little, uh, awkward.

From a country star’s makeup mishap that became a viral moment, to a big spoiler getting dropped live on TV, and a performance that almost got totally ruined by a music failure, this year’s parade definitely had its fair share of drama. So, let’s dive in and break down three moments that left us all talking — or cringing.

Country Star Dasha’s Lipstick Fail

It was Thanksgiving morning, and the rain was pouring down heavily. Dasha, a rising 24-year-old country music star, had been preparing for one of the biggest performances of her career—the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

She stood on the Big City Cheer! float, singing her hit song, Austin (Boots Stop Workin’), for a nationwide TV audience. Everything started smoothly, but then things took a turn. As she sang, her bright red lipstick began to smear—and not just a little. It was a small mishap, but with all eyes on her, it quickly became a moment to remember.

By the end of the performance, Dasha’s lipstick was smeared all over her mouth and chin, making it impossible to ignore. Viewers at home wasted no time pointing out the makeup mishap on social media. Later, the songstress showed her sense of humor by addressing the situation online and laughing it off.

Still, let’s face it—this makeup fail is destined to live on the internet forever. And it wasn’t just the lipstick that caused trouble; the rain made things even tougher for all the performers. Despite it all, Dasha powered through like a true professional.

Al Roker Spoiled Wicked Movie Cameo Live on TV

Al Roker has been the face of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for what feels like forever. He’s the guy we all turn to when we want a little warmth and humor while watching balloons float by.

But this year, Roker made a pretty big mistake that made everyone cringe: he accidentally spoiled a major part of the new Wicked movie. During the parade, Roker was hosting with Broadway legend Idina Menzel, who famously played Elphaba in the musical Wicked.

They were chatting, and then Roker casually let slip that Menzel had a cameo in the upcoming Wicked movie. Oops. Menzel, who’d clearly been trying to keep her appearance under wraps, was caught off-guard and immediately shot him a playful (but slightly panicked) look.

“You’re not supposed to tell anyone about the cameo!” she scolded, as Roker awkwardly backpedaled with, “Well, the cat’s out of the bag!” Fans on social media were not happy (via NY Post). While some people had already guessed the cameo, it was still supposed to be a surprise for moviegoers.

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb Saved the Day

Now, let’s talk about a moment that was so awkward it was almost painful to watch. During the parade, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb were hosting, like they always do. Everything seemed to be going smoothly — until the music didn’t start. 

The War and Treaty, a musical duo, was supposed to perform on one of the floats, but when it was their time to sing, nothing happened. The music didn’t play. Instead of panicking, Guthrie and Kotb took charge and filled the awkward silence with their usual charm.

They kept talking, hyping up the duo, talking about the floats, and trying to keep the energy up. You could tell they were trying not to laugh, but they managed to make it seem like everything was okay.

Eventually, the music kicked in, and The War and Treaty were able to perform their holiday song, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). But the moment before that? It was one of those live TV disasters that you couldn’t look away from. At least the two got things back on track with their quick thinking.