Ariana Grande Entering a New Art Form

There’s a renewed sense of gratitude in Ariana Grande now — one that feels untethered from the narratives and tabloid chatter that have, at times, eclipsed her past wins. “I feel like it’s the first time in my career — between Wicked and Eternal Sunshine — when I really feel seen for my work and as an artist,” she says. “I really do.”

This time, she’s able to sit inside the moment, to accept the world’s embrace as it recognizes her work. When we speak, Grande has just been announced as a Golden Globe nominee for Glinda in Wicked: For Good, a box office smash that reimagined a classic for a new generation. It’s her second time up for the award. She’s aware that she didn’t arrive here alone. Again and again, her thoughts return to Nonna and Joan — the women who never let her lose sight of herself.

“Never in my life did I expect to be an Oscar-nominated actress,” she says with a soft smile. “I just never thought I’d be seen that way by the industry that I love. I give my life to art every minute of every day. So to feel embraced back — and to share it with my mom — is so extraordinary.”

Early Childhood and Career

Long before Ariana Grande ever slipped into Glinda’s floating bubble — before the pop superstardom or the awards-season accolades — there was a four-year old girl on a cruise ship with a microphone and no fear. Grande has shared the story before: she stepped up to sing Céline Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” and there, got a sort of blessing from a music legend, Gloria Estefan, who happened to be watching her perform and recognized her gift. “You keep singing,” were Gloria’s words. In hindsight, those early anecdotes now read like the opening notes of a career destined for the spotlight.

The instinct to just “keep singing” led her through Broadway dreams, starring as Charlotte in 13 as a teenager before breaking out while on Victorious, where her talent quickly outgrew the limits of her supporting role. Offscreen, she nurtured her music career through YouTube covers that hinted at what was to come. What followed has been a 15-year ascent that has led her to era-defining pop music for the world, endless tours showcasing that inimitable voice, and a legacy shaped alongside loss and grief in the public eye. Reaching Glinda wasn’t just magic — it was the culmination of years of devotion and discipline as she followed the dream and never stopped chasing it.