Ariana Grande Shares 'Scary' Plan to Focus on Musical Theater over Pop Music After MakingWicked

Mar. 15, 2025

Ariana Grande in Hollywood in March 2024.Photo:Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Ariana Grandeis switchin' the positions for you!The pop star, 31, appeared on the Wednesday, Nov. 6, episode of theLas Culturistaspodcast with herWickedcostarBowen Yang— a show he cohosts with actorMatt Rogers.During the conversation, Grande revealed that starring as Good Witch Glinda in the Universal film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical has made her want to shift her focus from pop music to musical theater.Ariana Granda is Glinda in WICKED.Universal Pictures“It is my heart,” she said of acting in theater.Before the “yes, and?” singer got her big break as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon sitcomVictorious, she was a theater kid in13: The Musical.“I’m gonna say something so scary — it’s gonna scare the absolute s— out of my fans and everyone, but I love them, and they’ll deal, and we’ll be here forever,” Grande continued during Wednesday’s podcast episode. “I’m always going to make music, I’m always going to go on stage, I’m always going to do pop stuff, I pinky promise. But I don’t think doing it at the rate I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years.”Ariana Grande on SNL in March 2024.Will Heath/NBC via GettyFor Grande, Broadway would allow her to get back to her roots.“Reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater, and who loves comedy, and it heals me to do that — finding roles to use these parts of myself and put them in little homes and characters and bits and voices and songs,” she said. “Whatever makes sense, or whatever roles we see fit, or where I could really do a good job or honor the material, I would really love to. I think it’s a lot better for me. I’m getting emotional.”The “Thank U, Next” singer also opened up to Yang, 34, and Rogers, also 34, about recently working with music iconStevie Nickswhen she hostedSaturday Night Liveon Oct. 12.Bowen Yang, host Ariana Grande, and musical guest Stevie Nicks on SNL, October 2024.Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/Getty"She had written me a letter a few years ago," Grande said of theFleetwood Macsinger, 76. “So we had spoken once before but we had never met.“Yang, anSNLcast member himself, added, “Ari and I were already on the floor just like giggling being stupid, and then they bring Stevie on, and I just kind of immediately knew to back away.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.According to Yang, Nicks grabbed Grande’s hand and told her, “I loved your video for ‘We Can’t Be Friends.’ ”Grande recalled the moment as “surreal.”Wicked: Part Onearrives in theaters Nov. 22.Wicked: Part Twois slated for Nov. 26, 2025. The film also starsCynthia Erivo,Jeff Goldblum,Ethan Slater,Michelle Yeoh,Peter DinklageandJonathan Bailey, among others.

Ariana Grandeis switchin' the positions for you!

The pop star, 31, appeared on the Wednesday, Nov. 6, episode of theLas Culturistaspodcast with herWickedcostarBowen Yang— a show he cohosts with actorMatt Rogers.

During the conversation, Grande revealed that starring as Good Witch Glinda in the Universal film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical has made her want to shift her focus from pop music to musical theater.

Ariana Granda is Glinda in WICKED.Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

“It is my heart,” she said of acting in theater.

Before the “yes, and?” singer got her big break as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon sitcomVictorious, she was a theater kid in13: The Musical.

“I’m gonna say something so scary — it’s gonna scare the absolute s— out of my fans and everyone, but I love them, and they’ll deal, and we’ll be here forever,” Grande continued during Wednesday’s podcast episode. “I’m always going to make music, I’m always going to go on stage, I’m always going to do pop stuff, I pinky promise. But I don’t think doing it at the rate I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years.”

Ariana Grande on SNL in March 2024.Will Heath/NBC via Getty

Will Heath/NBC via Getty

For Grande, Broadway would allow her to get back to her roots.

“Reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater, and who loves comedy, and it heals me to do that — finding roles to use these parts of myself and put them in little homes and characters and bits and voices and songs,” she said. “Whatever makes sense, or whatever roles we see fit, or where I could really do a good job or honor the material, I would really love to. I think it’s a lot better for me. I’m getting emotional.”

The “Thank U, Next” singer also opened up to Yang, 34, and Rogers, also 34, about recently working with music iconStevie Nickswhen she hostedSaturday Night Liveon Oct. 12.

Bowen Yang, host Ariana Grande, and musical guest Stevie Nicks on SNL, October 2024.Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/Getty

Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/Getty

“She had written me a letter a few years ago,” Grande said of theFleetwood Macsinger, 76. “So we had spoken once before but we had never met.”

Yang, anSNLcast member himself, added, “Ari and I were already on the floor just like giggling being stupid, and then they bring Stevie on, and I just kind of immediately knew to back away.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to Yang, Nicks grabbed Grande’s hand and told her, “I loved your video for ‘We Can’t Be Friends.’ ”

Grande recalled the moment as “surreal.”

Wicked: Part Onearrives in theaters Nov. 22.Wicked: Part Twois slated for Nov. 26, 2025. The film also starsCynthia Erivo,Jeff Goldblum,Ethan Slater,Michelle Yeoh,Peter DinklageandJonathan Bailey, among others.

source: people.com