Joshua Henry Just Got the 2026 Met Gala Off to a Rousing Start—With a Whitney Houston Homage

Joshua Henry just opened the 2026 Met Gala red carpet in high-octane style.

Dressed in a scarlet Bode suit, Henry—who currently stars in Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Ragtime—took the carpet on Monday night with an exuberant cover of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” backed by a 12-person choir, eight dancers, and a four-piece band.

He began the song in the Greek and Roman sculpture galleries before making his way into the lunar paradise that is presently the Met Gala’s Great Hall—and then onto the carpet, framed by great curtains of colorful wisteria.

Photo: Getty Images

With choreography by Ellenore Scott, who also served as an overall creative consultant for the performance, and music production by Joseph Abate, the moment set a high watermark for the thrilling evening to come.

See Every Look From the Met Gala Red Carpet Here:

Photo: Getty Images

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