Ariana Grande’s recent vocal performance has left fans intrigued and questioning her vocal acrobatics. A viral TikTok clip capturing Grande’s conversation with Badgley prompted one user to exclaim, “ARIANA WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE????” along with some crying emojis. Grande responded to the post, explaining that her vocal changes are a result of habit and vocal health. She mentioned intentionally altering her vocal placement depending on the amount of singing she’s doing, and emphasized that this is a practice she has always followed.
Speculation arose that Grande’s vocal shift could be related to her role in the upcoming movie adaptation of Wicked, where she portrays Glinda the Good Witch. The 30-year-old singer previously discussed the transformation she underwent to embody her Wicked character. In an interview with The Zach Sang Show in February, Grande expressed the challenges of shedding her popstar persona to fully immerse in the role. She mentioned the need to deconstruct her image to prove her ability to take on a different persona convincingly.
Grande shared that she had to strip down her usual appearance, arriving at callbacks with no makeup, hair down, and looking much younger than her usual image. This drastic transformation was necessary to distance herself from her recognizable popstar identity and fully embrace the character she was portraying. Overall, Grande’s commitment to her role in Wicked showcases her dedication to her craft and willingness to undergo significant changes for her art.