Ariana Grande stays true to Glinda’s Glitter

First up, we’re talking about Ariana Grande’s fabulous turn as Glinda in Wicked. Not only did she light up the screen in the Universal adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, but she also stood her ground when composer Stephen Schwartz toyed with “hip-hopping” Glinda’s iconic anthem, Popular. Grande’s response? A firm, “Absolutely not.”. Ariana, best known for her teen TV show Victorious and chart-toppers like 7 Rings, showed incredible respect for Kristin Chenoweth’s original portrayal while adding her own sparkle. Even director Jon M. Chu—initially unsure about casting her—admitted she nailed it after relentless auditions. And the result? Wicked, which released on November 22, is a knockout hit at the box office, breaking records for Broadway adaptations.