Ariana Grande fans will notice her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera, in the credits of the upcoming Wicked movie, instead of her stage name. While she’s been known as Ariana Grande since her Nickelodeon days, she chose to use her real name for the role of Glinda.
In an interview on The Streaming Service with Justin Hill podcast, Grande explained that using her full name felt like a “homecoming.” She said it was a way to honor her younger self, recalling how she first saw Wicked at age 10. “It felt like a really lovely way of honoring that,” she added.
Grande, a long-time fan of the Broadway musical, agreed with Hill’s comment that using her full name was a “love note” to her past. Fans praised her emotional connection to the role, with one commenting, “Playing this role healed so many parts of Ari.”
Grande also spoke about the close relationships she built on set, particularly with co-star Cynthia Erivo. “It just felt really intimate,” she said.
Wicked opens in theaters on November 22, where audiences will see Grande and Erivo’s portrayal of Glinda and Elphaba’s powerful friendship.
