Wicked star Ariana Grande wrote a humbling post after being nominated for her first Academy Award for playing the supporting role of Glinda.
Director Jon M. Chu's two-part film adaptation of the Broadway musical based on characters from L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz received ten Oscar nods, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo for her portrayal of Elphaba.
In honor of the recognition that left her emotionally overwhelmed, Grande took to Instagram and shared a carousel of photos featuring one of her as a young starlet dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.
The post also included a clip of her singing Elphaba's solo from Wicked, "The Wizard and I."
It was a full-circle moment.
She wrote in the lengthy caption:
"Picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition. i cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise."
"I’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just before the big, beautiful bubble entered. i’m so proud of you, tiny."
Grande also thanked Chu for giving her a chance and for "being the most unbelievably brilliant leader, human being, and most fierce friend."
She also gushed over her "beautiful Wicked family" and said she was also proud of Erivo, who was nominated for her second Oscar after receiving the honor for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in 2019's Harriet.
"I am so proud of my Elphie, my sister, my dear @cynthiaerivo," said Grande.
"Your brilliance is never ending and you deserve every flower (tulip) in every garden. i love you unconditionally, always."
"I don’t quite have all my words yet, i’m still trying to breathe," she said and thanked Universal Pictures, Wicked producer Marc Platt and "my family, my heart."
She concluded the post with:
"Lemons and melons and pears, oh my."
Fans, friends, and industry colleagues were thrilled for the celebration.
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When Deadline mentioned Grande pretty much manifested playing the role of Glinda, which she lobbied and prepared for ever since she caught wind of early discussions of the movie adaptation, the pop idol responded:
"I’ve been performing since I was eight and I’ve been doing this a long time, it just feels like you don’t expect this type of thing. It’s my first movie and being able to play this role was the greatest gift of my life."
"You don’t think in your wildest dreams that you’ll be nominated for an Oscar, you know what I mean? It feels beautiful to be in such company that I’ve admired my whole life long."
"And also to have that warm welcome and validation that maybe I’m in the right place at last. It’s nice to have the work recognized. It’s the best gift of my entire life, being able to do this," she added.
Grande was first introduced to the musical the same year it debuted on Broadway in 2003.
Her 99-year-old grandmother, Marjorie Grande—affectionately known as Nonna—took Grande to see the show on Broadway when she was ten.
Things came full circle when Grande flew to her hometown of Boca Rotan, Florida for 24 hours to take her beloved Nonna to see the Wicked movie in November 2024 at Grande's childhood movie theater.
Congratulations on your nomination, Ariana!
We "couldn't be happier." 😉
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