Sarah Hyland just turned Thanksgiving morning into her own personal mic-drop moment. The Modern Family favorite stepped onto the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade stage with the Broadway cast of Just in Time—and left viewers scrambling to Google, “Wait, since when can Sarah Hyland sing like THAT?”
Sarah Hyland Steals The Show At Macy’s Parade
Performing alongside co-stars Jonathan Groff and Sadie Dickerson, Sarah Hyland helped bring a high-energy Just in Time medley to 34th Street, broadcast live to millions at the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The cast delivered a splashy sequence built around Bobby Darin hits, including “Beyond the Sea,” “Splish Splash,” and other classics from the new Broadway musical about the late crooner. Hyland stepped forward for “Splish Splash,” belting out her lines with confident vocals, sharp timing, and easy chemistry with Groff and the ensemble—instantly surprising fans who only knew her as sitcom brainiac Haley Dunphy.
Social media lit up with viewers stunned by her voice. Parade coverage highlighted how many fans were just discovering her musical side, with posts like “IS THAT SARAH HYLAND??” and “I never knew what an amazing voice Sarah Hyland had!” flooding X and Instagram. Behind-the-scenes clips from rehearsals, showing Hyland and Sadie Dickerson running “Mack the Knife,” only fueled the excitement around her Broadway glow-up.
Modern Family To Broadway Era
For Sarah Hyland, the parade performance was more than a cute holiday cameo—it was a major showcase of her second act as a legit musical theatre performer. She currently stars in Just in Time as Connie Francis, joining Groff’s Bobby Darin in a production directed by Tony winner Alex Timbers at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre. Coverage notes that her parade appearance marks a bigger shift from TV comedy to live theatre, with Hyland matching stage veterans in both vocals and choreography during the nationally televised number.
What many viewers didn’t realize: Hyland’s musical roots run deep. She made her Off-Broadway/Broadway debut as a teenager in Grey Gardens, later starred as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, and recently took on Daisy Buchanan in the Broadway musical adaptation of The Great Gatsby before joining Just in Time in 2025. The parade, watched by millions, effectively reintroduced her as a full-on stage triple threat—acting, singing, and dancing right alongside Tony winners and seasoned Broadway talent.
Sarah Hyland Macy’s Parade FAQs
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What did Sarah Hyland sing at the parade?
Sarah performed as part of a Just in Time medley featuring Bobby Darin songs, with her vocals featured prominently on “Splish Splash” and in the ensemble segments. -
Was it really live?
Yes—Hyland and the Just in Time cast performed on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route in New York City as part of NBC’s live broadcast, with segment rehearsals filmed earlier in the week. -
Why are people so shocked Sarah Hyland can sing?
Many Modern Family fans only knew her from TV and had never seen her in musical roles; the parade was their first exposure to her Broadway-caliber vocals, prompting viral reactions and trending clips online. -
What show is she promoting?
Sarah Hyland is part of the Broadway musical Just in Time, a biographical show about Bobby Darin starring Jonathan Groff, with a cast that includes Sadie Dickerson, Michele Pawk, Emily Bergl, and more.
With one powerhouse performance, Sarah Hyland went from “funny Modern Family girl” to “wait, she’s a Broadway belter now?”—and judging by the reaction to her Macy’s Parade moment, this is just the beginning of her musical era.
