Ariana Grande is paying homage to her origins in a heartfelt manner. During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter's podcast Awards Chatter, which aired on Monday, February 3rd, the multifaceted talent elaborated on her decision to use her birth name, Ariana Grande-Butera, in the credits of the film adaptation of Wicked. "That is my full name," she emphasized, her voice resonating with sincerity.
"It's the name I was born with, the name I held dear when I first encountered Wicked as a young girl," shared the 31-year-old Academy Award nominee, her eyes perhaps glimmering with nostalgia. "This experience felt like a poignant reunion with my younger self, a part of me that might have gotten sidetracked along the journey."
"For her, it was a homecoming, and this was a beautiful celebration of that return, a way to embrace my complete essence," Grande added, her words painting a vivid picture of personal reflection and celebration.
Prior to this, the singer of the hit song "imperfect for you" had spoken openly about using her birth name in the credits of Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu and based on the acclaimed 2003 Broadway musical. When Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo sat down for an interview with podcaster and journalist Justin Hill, he noticed that Grande was credited with her "full, grown-up name" on screen and inquired about the symbolism behind this choice.
"Technically, it's my little girl name, the name of little Ari," she replied, her voice tinged with warmth. (Grande is her mother Joan's last name, while Butera belongs to her father Ed, who divorced when their daughter was just eight years old.)
"Through Glinda and Elphaba, I felt like I reconnected with myself in many ways," she continued, referencing the characters she and the 38-year-old Erivo portray. "That was the name I went by when I watched the show at ten, and it felt like a wonderfully nostalgic way to honor that memory. It was truly a full-circle moment."
On January 23rd, Grande received her maiden Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category alongside fellow nominees Monica Barbaro, Felicity Jones, Isabella Rossellini, and Zoe Saldaña, for the upcoming ceremony on March 2nd.
"Amid sobs, I lift my head to express my heartfelt gratitude to @theacademy for this unimaginable recognition. Unsurprisingly, I can't stop crying," Grande captioned an Instagram post shortly after the nomination announcement.
Accompanying the text were a photo of a toddler Grande dressed similarly to Judy Garland's iconic Dorothy character from The Wizard of Oz, an undated video of her singing snippets of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked, and pictures of her in costume as Glinda alongside Erivo.
"I am humbled and profoundly honored to share this with the tiny Ari who once sat mesmerized by Judy Garland singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' just before embarking on this magnificent journey. I'm so proud of you, tiny," Grande penned, her words imbued with affection and a sense of personal triumph.
