TV & Movies
Ariana Grande Talked About Changing Her Voice For Wicked
The star said she’s still “looking for her eyebrows,” too.
Amid the global success of Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Wicked, co-star Ariana Grande is opening up about the vocal work she put in for the role of Glinda the Good Witch.
In a new interview with Variety, the Golden Globe nominee talked about the new timbre to her voice, which was a result of vocal training as she prepared for the film. Many fans have pointed out the changed quality to her voice — one that’s more high-pitched, crisp and enunciated than the sultry tones on beloved records like “7 Rings” and “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored.”
“Maybe people underestimate how long we spent finding and disappearing into these women,” Grande said of her voice. “So when certain inflections or mannerisms take time to melt away, sometimes people poke fun. But we had a job to do, and we had things to get lost in — because that’s what the piece required.”
She said she underwent extensive voice training to embody the character, which gave her a lilt reminiscent of Old Hollywood starlets. “Galinda required a lot of vocal work for me,” she said. “Certain things maybe won’t melt away. Some will, but I’m really grateful for the pieces that will stay with us forever. What a beautiful thing to be left with, and to feel the ghost of every day.”
The R.E.M. Beauty founder also changed her appearance for the role. As a singer, she’d been known for her signature high ponytail in dark brown. She shocked fans when she debuted a new honey-blonde color that fit into the decades-long lineage of blonde Broadway Glindas.
As a longtime fan of the musical, Grande has been open about her dream to play Glinda in Wicked, sharing her desire to totally immerse herself in the role, especially in light of the backlash around her casting from longtime Wicked fans.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said the original composer, Stephen Schwartz, even approached her about creating a modern, hip-hop version of “Popular” for the film, but Grande rejected the idea. “Absolutely not, don’t do it. I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda,” she recalled herself saying.
Grande said filming the movie was an enveloping experience. “We were really in it,” she told Variety. “And really lost in the sauce.” And, of course, the blonde hair still remains. “I’m still looking for my eyebrows,” she joked. “I’ll let you know if I find them — I hope I don’t.”
Wicked has already generated $634 million at the global box office after six weeks of release. The second part of the story, Wicked: For Good, will hit theaters Nov. 21, 2025.
