Ariana Grande lands role in Wicked Movie alongside Cynthia Erivio
'Pink goes good with green'
Last updated 5th Nov 2021
Despite her role on The Voice US, we haven’t seen or heard of Ariana Grande in a little while, but we definitely will be soon as she’s landed the part of Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movie!
The singer has been cast alongside award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, who will be playing the role of Elphaba. The pair both revealed their excitement at their parts on Instagram, with Ari sharing a series of pictures with her followers, writing: ‘thank goodness 💘.’
Cynthia also sent Ariana a special note that read: ‘Pink goes good with green. Congratulations Miss A, the part was made for you, I look forward to sharing this musical journey with you.’
Wicked is a hugely successful Broadway musical, based the book 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire. The novel was adapted into a musical with music by Stephen Schwartz and has been running on Broadway since 2003 and in the West End since 2006.
It tells a different story about what happened in Oz - the magical land from The Wizard of Oz - which takes place years before Dorothy arrived.
Ariana has been a big fan of the musical for years, and has sung covers of the songs from the musical. The films has faced setbacks since it was first announced in 2016, with the pandemic pushing back filming. It is set to be directed by Jon M.Chu and filming is due to start later this year.
Jon M. Chu shared the news on Twitter: 'Goooood Newwwws!!! The incredible #CynthiaErivo and @ArianaGrande will be our Elphaba and Galinda in @WickedMovie @UniversalPics Get ready for a match up like you’ve never seen!!! In pink and green!!!' (sic)
Ariana last released music in 2021, releasing her sixth album ‘positions’ on 30th October 2020.
Check out all the other artists Ariana Grande has worked with:
'The Way' - Mac Miller
Although Ariana worked with her late ex-boyfriend Mac Miller on a number of hit songs, their track 'The Way' in 2013 really stuck with fans when it featured on her debut album 'Yours Truly'. After Mac's tragic passing in September 2018, Ariana paid a touching tribute to her ex on her track 'thank u, next', writing the lyrics: 'Wish I could say, "Thank you" to Malcolm / 'Cause he was an angel'.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Bang Bang' - Jessie J and Nicki Minaj
Released in 2014 as the third single from Ariana's second album 'My Everything', the singer teamed up with American rapper Nicki Minaj and British singer Jessie J. The hit debuted at Number 1 in the UK charts and the trio performed it live at both the MTV Video Music Awards and the American Music Awards in 2014.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Problem' - Iggy Azalea
2014 was a big year for collabs for Ari! She also teamed up with Australian rapper Iggy Azalea on the hit single 'Problem'. The pair were originally due to team up together for Ariana's debut album in 2013, but things didn't work out, leading them to create this banger one year later.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Love Me Harder' - The Weeknd
Another collab from Ariana's album 'My Everything', this time with Canadian singer The Weeknd. The collab came about with Ariana and The Weeknd both being signed to Republic Records, with executive vice president Charlie Walk stating at the time the track was used as a strategy to promote The Weeknd as an artist. Whatever it was created for, it's still an absolute banger!
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Break Free' - ZEDD
Released in 2014 as the second single from her album 'My Everything', Ariana teamed up with Russian-German music producer Zedd for the track 'Break Free'. The single has since been certified 2x Platinum.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Side To Side' - Nicki Minaj
After teaming up in 2015 for 'Bang Bang', Ariana once again worked with American rapper Nicki Minaj for the hit 'Side To Side' in 2016. The track was included on Ariana's third album 'Dangerous Woman', with the duo performing it live for the first time at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Good As Hell' - Lizzo
When Lizzo re-released her single 'Good As Hell' in 2018, the singer asked Ariana to feature on a remix of the track, and the rest is history!
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Don't Call Me Angel' - Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Ray
Ariana enlisted the help of her friends Miley Cyrus AND Lana Del Ray in 2019, to release 'Don't Call Me Angel' as the lead single from the soundtrack to the film Charlie's Angels. The single, with three Queens, instantly became a massive hit, reaching Number 1 in a number of countries across the world.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Boyfriend' - Social House
Ari teamed up with American duo Social House on her summer hit 'Boyfriend', which hit Number 4 in the UK Chart and has been certified Platinum. The music video sees the pop star at a house party that gets out of hand. After a fight breaks out, Ariana takes matters into her own hands and fires heart-shaped lasers from her chest! Running on just one hour's sleep, Ariana shot the music video in a 15-hour day - sharing behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot with fans.
Watch the video on YouTube.
'Stuck with U' - Justin Bieber
They've been friends for years and even have the same manager in Scooter Braun, so a Justin Bieber/Ariana Grande collab was always going to happen one day! Ariana teamed up with Biebs in 2020 to release a charity single called 'Stuck with U' in the middle of the global Coronavirus Pandemic. The single raised money for First Responders Children's Foundation, with the popular duo asking fans to upload videos of themselves for the official video.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Rain On Me' - Lady Gaga
Released on 22nd May 2020, Ariana Grande teamed up with Lady Gaga for the first time to produce 'Rain On Me'. The pair dubbed the song a 'monster dance hit' and fans were over the moon that these two pop legends eventually worked together on the track, which featured on Lady Gaga's 2020 album 'Chromatica'.
It's fair to say the song was an instant hit - bagging two MTV Awards AND the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2020.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Collaborations on 'positions'
Ariana Grande released her sixth album 'positions' on 30th October without much warning at all. On the album are three collaborations: 'motive' feat. Doja Cat, 'off the table' feat. The Weeknd and 'safety net' feat. Ty Dolla $ign.
Listen to 'motive' on YouTube.
'34+35 (Remix)' - Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion
In 2021, Ariana joined forces with megastars Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion to gift us all with '34+35 (Remix)'. The song is, of course, a remix of her track '34+35' that features on her 2020 album 'positions'.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Met Him Last Night' - Demi Lovato ft. Ariana Grande
Ariana appeared on a track for Demi Lovato's seventh album, 'Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over'. The record was released in April 2021 to coincide with her YouTube documentary of the same name, following her recovery. Demi told us all about the process with Ariana: "She's beyond talented and a little genius. She's the one on her computer, vocal producing herself. That blows my mind. She sent a video over of the parts that she wanted me to do and she was showing me the parts on her computer screen."
Listen to the song on YouTube - 🚨 Explicit lyrics warning! 🚨
'Save Your Tears' remix - The Weeknd
Ariana took to her Instagram in April to share a short audio-clip teaser of her and The Weeknd harmonising on his track 'Save Your Tears'. Despite the video being blank, fans could hear Ari and The Weeknd singing the lyrics: 'I don't know why I run away'. The track was later released on 23rd April, along with an eye-catching animated music video.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'I Don't Do Drugs' - Doja Cat
In June, Ariana teamed up with Doja Cat for the second time and featured on the song 'I Don't Do Drugs' from Doja Cat's third studio album 'Planet Her'. The song isn't about drugs as such, but about the person who you know is no good for you, but you can't help but go back.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'Die for You' - The Weeknd
Ari teamed up with The Weeknd yet again, appearing on a remix of his track 'Die For You' in 2023. It was rumoured to be appearing on Ariana's seventh album, but she has put off recording while she works on Wicked.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
'yes, and ?' remix - Mariah Carey
In February 2024, a month after Ari dropped her comeback single 'yes, and ?', she delighted fans by joining forces with Mariah Carey on an epic remix of the song. With their complimenting vocals and Mariah's signature sound, it's fair to say she was an iconic addition to the song, with Ari writing to Mariah: 'thank you from the bottom of my heart for this dream come true and for sprinkling your brilliance and magic on my little song'. (sic)
Listen to the song on YouTube
Now read:
11 of Ariana Grande's biggest songs of all time 🙌
Ariana Grande's rise to fame from school plays to sixth album 'positions'
Who is Lola Young, the London singer behind the John Lewis Christmas advert?