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Ariana Grande is to earworms what the bees are to honey—simply inseparable. After enchanting audiences as a child star, she skyrocketed to become one of the modern pop music scene’s true luminaries. But fame, as they say, is a double-edged sword. While her success has filled her coffers with the envy of nearly all mere mortals, dealing with the downsides of celebrity has been a horse of a different color.
Grande is now stepping into the shimmering shoes of Glinda the Good Witch in the eagerly awaited film adaptation ofWicked. But here’s the rub—amidst all the fanfare and excitement, a tempest is brewing over a so-called “voice change”, sparking a fiery debate among her legion of fans and critics.
Ariana Grande’s Voice Change Debate: Criticism? What Criticism?
Ariana Grande, poised to sprinkle some enchantment in the upcoming film adaptation ofWicked, has long been hailed for herpowerhouse vocals. However, as the film draws closer to release, many fans have expressed concern over what they perceive as a ‘voice change’ (seeDeadline).
So, Grande’s set to don the role of Glinda, and suddenly everyone’s an expert on her vocal range. After her appearance on Penn Badgley’sPodcrushed, folks online started poking fun at her seemingly ever-changing voice (viaComing Soon). In a TikTok clip that sent shockwaves through the internet (you know it’s serious when the internet is shocked), she effortlessly transitioned from a deep, sultry tone to her signature high pitch, leaving listeners wondering if she had a secret contract with the vocal gods.
The clip went viral, racking up millions of views and sparking a frenzy of discussions online. Set to hit theaters in November of this year, Grande will be sharing the spotlight with Cynthia Erivo, who’s donning the green paint to play Elphaba, the Wicked Witch herself.
Ariana Grande Responds to Backlash About Her Voice Transformation
In a recent chat withVanity Fair, Ariana Grande, 31, reflected on the head-scratching responses to her voice changes.“There is a part of the world that isn’t familiar with what it takes to transform your voice, whether it’s singing or taking on a different dialect for a role,”she pointed out.
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But wait—there’s more! The singer-actress brought up the good ol’ double standard in Hollywood. She noted:
When it’s a male actor that does it, it’s acclaimed. There are definitely jokes that are made as well, but it’s always after being led with praise: ‘Oh, wow, he was so lost in the role.’
Sounds like a classic case of “boys will be boys”while girls get the magnifying glass treatment! Meanwhile, in her classic TikTok style (viaTHR), Grande shot back:
I intentionally change my vocal placement (high/low) often depending on how much singing I’m doing.
Continuing, she said, while waving goodbye to the critics:
I’ve always done this BYE.
Sounds like a classic case of ‘you can’t please everyone’. Well, despite all the chatter, Grande remains unapologetically proud of her hard work (via Vanity Fair):
Part of why I did want to engage [on TikTok] is because I am really proud of my hard work and of the fact that I did give 100 percent of myself, including my physicality, to this role.
And honestly, who wouldn’t be proud of giving it their all, especially when it involves flying monkeys and fabulous costumes?
Ariana Grande: ‘It’s All About Muscle Memory’
As William Shakespeare might say,“All the world’s a stage,” but apparently, some folks think Ariana Grande’s stage voice should come with a manual. In a chat with Evan Ross Katz on hisShut Up Evanpodcast (viaRolling Stone), Grande explained her vocal gymnastics, pointing out that her voice is like a fine wine.
She said, referring to her role as Glinda in the highly anticipatedWickedadaptation:
I did just spend a long time playing a character every single day and training my voice to do different things. The voice is in the body, it’s an instrument, and muscle memory is a real thing. That’s a normal thing for people whose job is to transform.
In her conversation with Katz, Grande even threw a spotlight on Austin Butler, who got raving reviews for his portrayal of Elvis Presley while also being ribbed for his inability to drop the accent.
Ariana Grande’s ‘Wicked Themed’ Tattoo
Ariana Grande andCynthia Erivodecided to make theirWickedconnection permanent. On an Instagram Story (viaTeen Vogue), the former shared a delightful peek into their on-set antics, including a snapshot that would make any best friend jealous. The photo featured their palms side by side, each sporting matching tattoos that say, “For Good.” This charming tribute references the heartwarming duet that Elphaba and Glinda sing as they bid farewell.
Grande also revealed that she has a secondWicked-themed tattoo on the back of her right hand to honor her character. Speaking withAllure, she expressed her excitement:
I waited forever to fill up this hand. And I thought, ‘I’m gonna wait for the right thing to come along,’ and yeah, that felt very right.
Who knew that ink could speak louder than words? It’s hard not to admire the lengths she’s gone to express her connection to the film and its legendary story!
Ariana Grande’sWickedEarning
Let’s talk about the financial side of things—because, honestly, who doesn’t love a good payday? Ariana Grande isreportedlyset to rake in a whopping $15 million for her role inWicked. That’s a substantial sum for any role, especially in a musical adaptation.
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Directed by Jon M. Chu and based on Stephen Schwartz and Holzman’s beloved Broadway show,Wickedis one of the most eagerly awaited musical adaptations since, well, the last time someone tried to adapt a musical!
Wickedis set to hit theaters on June 15, 2025, with its sequel,Wicked Part Two, following closely behind on June 08, 2025.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
