Ariana Grande Talks Eternal Sunshine and Wicked, Teases Penn Badgley Music Video Cameo (Extended)

Summary

In this delightful interview, Ariana Grande visits Jimmy Fallon, expressing her excitement and gratitude for her role in 'Wicked'. She shares the secret audition process and the joy of finally being able to talk about it. Ariana reminisces about her childhood meeting with Kristin Chenoweth and her dream of playing Glinda, which has now come true. The conversation also covers her surprise album 'Eternal Sunshine' and its success, including breaking records on Spotify. They discuss her upcoming performance and music video featuring Penn Badgley, and Fallon gifts her a sweatshirt with his childhood photo, reciprocating a past gift from Grande.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Ariana Grande expresses her excitement and gratitude for the love and support she receives, especially for her role in 'Wicked'.
• 🤝 She acknowledges Jimmy Fallon's support during her Zoom interview, where she couldn't reveal her 'Wicked' casting due to secrecy.
• 🎭 Ariana shares her journey and the thrill of landing the role of Glinda in 'Wicked', a dream role she had tweeted about back in 2011.
• 🎶 The audience gets a glimpse into Ariana's creative process for her surprise album 'Eternal Sunshine', which was crafted during a studio session with Max Martin.
• 🏆 Ariana achieves a new milestone as the first female artist to have 14 songs surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.
• 🎬 She discusses the practical sets of 'Wicked', highlighting the hard work and months spent by Nathan in designing them.
• 🐾 Ariana recalls a memorable encounter with Kristin Chenoweth at 10 years old, which included a backstage meet and greet and a funny incident involving a dog.
• 🎵 The conversation reveals Ariana's upcoming performance of 'The Boy is Mine' and the release of its music video, directed by Christian Breslauer.
• 🌟 The video for 'The Boy is Mine' features cameos, including one by Penn Badgley, whom Ariana has admired for a long time.
• 🎁 Jimmy Fallon surprises Ariana with a sweatshirt featuring his childhood photo, reciprocating a gift she had once given him.

Q & A

What show is Ariana Grande appearing on in the script?

Ariana Grande is appearing on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' as indicated by the conversation with Jimmy Fallon.

What role did Ariana Grande get that she couldn't reveal during the interview?

Ariana Grande got the role of Glinda in 'Wicked', which she couldn't reveal at the time of the interview.

How did Ariana Grande try to hint to Jimmy Fallon that she got the role of Glinda?

Ariana Grande tried to hint to Jimmy Fallon that she got the role by wearing a big pink embellishment, a sparkle choker, hoping he would associate it with her getting the part.

What was the nature of the secret Ariana Grande was keeping during the interview?

Ariana Grande was keeping the secret that she had been cast as Glinda in 'Wicked', but she was sworn to secrecy and couldn't tell anyone at that time.

What did Ariana Grande do during the music video filming for 'Masked Christmas'?

During the music video filming for 'Masked Christmas', Ariana Grande was going through the audition process for 'Wicked'.

Who is Cynthia Erivo and what is her connection to Ariana Grande in the script?

Cynthia Erivo is a brilliant actress and singer who starred alongside Ariana Grande in 'Wicked'. They both experienced the production for a long time and shared the response from the public.

What did Ariana Grande do after the strike mentioned in the script?

After the strike, Ariana Grande went home to see her family and then booked a week in the studio with Max Martin, resulting in the creation of her album 'Eternal Sunshine'.

What is the significance of the number 14 in relation to Ariana Grande's music mentioned in the script?

Ariana Grande became the first female artist to have 14 songs surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify, which is a significant achievement in her career.

What song is Ariana Grande performing on the show and what is the context of its release?

Ariana Grande is performing 'The Boy is Mine' on the show. The song's music video, directed by Christian Breslauer, is set to be released the next day.

Who is Penn Badgley and why is he mentioned in the script?

Penn Badgley is an actor who has a cameo in the music video for 'The Boy is Mine'. Ariana Grande mentions being a fan of his work.

What gift did Ariana Grande give to Jimmy Fallon, and what was the significance of it?

Ariana Grande gave Jimmy Fallon a sweatshirt with her baby picture on it, which was a thoughtful and personal gift showing their close relationship.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Ariana Grande's 'Wicked' Role and Nostalgic Broadway Memories

Ariana Grande expresses her excitement and gratitude for the love and support she receives, particularly for her role in 'Wicked.' She reminisces about a previous interaction during a Zoom meeting where she couldn't disclose her casting due to confidentiality. Ariana shares her joy about finally being able to talk about her role and the overwhelming response to the trailer. She also discusses the practical sets of 'Wicked,' which were designed by Nathan and took months to build. Ariana recounts her childhood experience of meeting Kristin Chenoweth after a Broadway show, which left a lasting impression on her. The conversation is filled with laughter, nostalgia, and mutual admiration between Ariana and the host.

05:01

🎶 Ariana Grande's Surprise Album 'Eternal Sunshine' and Upcoming Performance

The conversation shifts to Ariana Grande's surprise album 'Eternal Sunshine,' which was created during a week-long studio session with Max Martin. Despite initial plans to release it after 'Wicked,' the album came together organically. Ariana is praised for her professionalism and talent, with the host recalling a past collaboration that showcased her skills. The album's success is celebrated, including breaking records on Spotify. Ariana also discusses her upcoming performance of 'The Boy is Mine,' with a music video featuring Penn Badgley, whom she admires. The host playfully promotes the song and encourages listeners to request it on the radio. The segment concludes with a light-hearted exchange of gifts between Ariana and the host, highlighting their long-standing friendship.

Keywords

💡Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande is a prominent American singer, songwriter, and actress. In the context of the video, she is the guest of honor, and the script revolves around her achievements, upcoming projects, and personal anecdotes. The script mentions her excitement about her role in 'Wicked,' her album 'Eternal Sunshine,' and her performance on the show, all of which are central to the video's theme of celebrating her career milestones.

💡Wicked

Wicked is a Broadway musical based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, which is a retelling of the classic 'Wizard of Oz' story. In the script, Ariana Grande discusses her casting in the upcoming film adaptation of 'Wicked,' expressing her excitement and the secrecy surrounding her role. The term 'Wicked' is integral to the video's narrative as it represents a significant professional accomplishment for Ariana.

💡Audition Process

An audition process refers to the series of evaluations that performers go through to secure a role in a production, such as a play, movie, or television show. Ariana Grande mentions her audition process for 'Wicked,' highlighting the competitive and secretive nature of securing roles in major productions. The script emphasizes the personal journey and the anticipation of the outcome, which is a common theme in discussions about the entertainment industry.

💡VFX

VFX stands for Visual Effects, which are the processes used in film, television, and other visual media to create images and scenes that cannot be achieved through live-action filming alone. In the script, Ariana Grande talks about the addition of VFX in 'Wicked,' such as flying monkeys, to enhance the fantasy elements of the story. The term 'VFX' is used to illustrate the blend of practical sets and digital enhancements in modern film production.

💡Eternal Sunshine

Eternal Sunshine refers to Ariana Grande's surprise album that was released during the conversation in the script. The album's title symbolizes a positive and enduring outlook, which is reflected in the upbeat and celebratory tone of the video. The mention of 'Eternal Sunshine' in the script underscores Ariana's creative productivity and her ability to engage with her fans through new music.

💡Spotify

Spotify is a digital music streaming service that allows users to listen to music and podcasts. In the script, Ariana Grande's achievement of having 14 songs surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify is highlighted, showcasing her immense popularity and the platform's role in measuring an artist's reach and impact in the music industry.

💡The Boy is Mine

The Boy is Mine is a song that Ariana Grande is set to perform in the video, and it is also mentioned that the music video for the song will be released. This reference indicates the ongoing promotion of her music and the anticipation surrounding her performances and releases. The song title is used in the script to build excitement for her upcoming appearance and the new music video.

💡Max Martin

Max Martin is a Swedish music producer and songwriter known for his work with numerous pop artists. In the script, Ariana Grande credits Max Martin for collaborating with her on her album 'Eternal Sunshine.' His involvement signifies the high caliber of talent and expertise that contributes to her music, and it also reflects the collaborative nature of the music creation process.

💡Broadway

Broadway refers to the theater district in New York City, which is famous for its theatrical performances and is considered the pinnacle of American theater. Ariana Grande shares her childhood memory of seeing the original Broadway cast of 'Wicked' and meeting Kristin Chenoweth, indicating her long-standing passion for theater and her personal connection to the 'Wicked' story before her casting in the film adaptation.

💡Sneeze

In the script, a sneeze is mentioned as a humorous and spontaneous moment that occurs during the conversation. It serves as a light-hearted interjection and demonstrates the natural, unscripted moments that can occur in live performances or interviews. The mention of a sneeze and the subsequent 'bless you' adds a touch of authenticity and warmth to the interaction between the hosts and Ariana Grande.

💡Nona

Nona is a term often used to refer to a grandmother. In the script, Ariana Grande mentions going home to see her Nona, indicating the importance of family and personal connections in her life. The reference to Nona adds a personal and relatable dimension to the conversation, showing that despite her fame, Ariana values her family and roots.

Highlights

Audience's enthusiastic love for Ariana Grande is palpable.

Ariana Grande expresses her gratitude and shares her excitement about her return.

Ariana and the host reminisce about their past interaction during the Zoom era.

Ariana hints at her involvement in 'Wicked' without revealing her role.

The host praises Ariana's acting and her ability to keep secrets about her role in 'Wicked'.

Ariana shares her strategy to subtly communicate her 'Wicked' role to the host during a previous interaction.

The host discovers Ariana's tweet from 2011 expressing her dream to play Glinda in 'Wicked'.

Ariana reflects on the hard work and the joy of finally being able to talk about her 'Wicked' role.

Ariana discusses the overwhelming response to the 'Wicked' trailer and her collaboration with Cynthia Erivo.

Ariana clarifies misconceptions about the use of VFX in 'Wicked', highlighting the practical sets.

The host and Ariana recall her childhood experience meeting Kristin Chenoweth and the impact it had on her.

Ariana shares a humorous anecdote about cleaning up after Kristin Chenoweth's dog during a backstage visit.

Ariana's surprise album 'Eternal Sunshine' is released, catching fans and the host off guard.

The host compliments Ariana's professionalism and talent, recalling their past musical collaboration.

Ariana becomes the first female artist to have 14 songs surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.

Ariana will perform 'The Boy is Mine' on the show, with the music video featuring Penn Badgley released the next day.

The host playfully teases Ariana about calling radio stations to request her new song.

Ariana receives a personalized gift from the host, a sweatshirt with his childhood photo, in return for a similar gift she once gave him.

Transcripts

-Can you feel the love in the building for Ariana Grande?!

[ Cheers and applause ] Come on.

-Thank you so much! Thank you.

I miss you, bud. -I miss you!

-I miss you. How is everything? How's life?

-It's great. It's been so many years

since I've been actually physically here.

Last time, you did me a favor. It was during Zoom.

You helped us out. Yeah, you did me a nice, solid.

-You did me a favor. -You know, and then --

But you had gotten "Wicked."

-Yes, but I couldn't tell you yet.

-No, you couldn't. [ Cheers and applause ]

So we're talking, and I'm going like,

"Are you gonna do any more acting?"

and you're like, "Uh-huh."

-This was the sweetest thing ever.

Because Jimmy was being such an amazing friend to me.

He knew about my audition process

that I was going through

when we were filming our music video for "Masked Christmas"

that we did for your Christmas special.

-Right. Thank you for doing that.

-That was so much fun.

But, um... -It was the best.

-I had so much fun with you. -I had so much fun, too.

That was the best day.

But he knew that I was going through this audition process,

and I couldn't tell anyone that I had the role yet.

I was, like, sworn to secrecy.

And, um, two days before our interview,

I had gotten the call, and I was like, "I can't --

Are you sure I can't tell..." -You must have --

-Yes, but I was trying to subliminally,

like, tell you through the screen that I got it.

So I was wearing -- so I wore this big pink, um,

embellishment, this big pink choker sparkle thing.

I was like, "Maybe he'll think that's the fact that I got it."

-Yeah. -It didn't work.

-Here's the thing. No. -You were so sweet.

We're like, "You should do more acting,"

and I was like, "I got it! It's okay.

You don't have to say that." -No, I knew it in my head.

I kept the secret, as well.

[ Laughter ]

-Perfect. -I'm so happy for you.

I found a tweet that you, uh -- you put out in 2011, by the way.

It said, "Love seeing Wicked again.

Amazing production.

Made me realize again

how badly I want to play Glinda at some point.

Dream role." [ Cheers and applause ]

Bud, you did it! You did it!

It's -- Come on!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Buddy, buddy, buddy. Can you believe it?

-It's so great.

-I know how much work went into this

because I would check in with you and go,

"How's it going?" and blah, blah, blah.

-[ Sneeze ] -Bless you.

-God bless you. See how nice --

[ Laughter ] Someone sneezed, and --

Yeah, of course. But you get this role,

and now it's -- now it's -- the trailer's out.

Everyone got to see it. Are you relieved?

You're like, "Yes! I can talk about everything"?

-It's just so surreal to see, of course, the response.

You know, this is something that Cynthia

and I lived every single day. The brilliant Cynthia Erivo.

-Cynthia Erivo. Oh! She's so good.

[ Cheers and applause ]

-And, you know, it was ours for so long.

And it was just every single day for such a long time.

And to share it with people

and to feel the love that we've received in response

has been really overwhelming.

But the funniest thing is, people saying,

"It must be so weird to see it with all the VFX now.

Isn't that weird?" And I'm like,

"Well, yes, they did add some flying monkeys

and some -- some animals,

but these were really practical sets

that we were so blessed to be a part of.

-That world is -- -Yes.

-That's real? -Yeah.

Nathan designed these incredible sets

and spent months and months building them.

So what you're seeing is where we got to be for two years.

It was just so special. Yeah, it's really so --

-That's wild. -Yeah. Thank you.

-I remember once we talked about that you --

I think it was "Wicked" we were talking about.

And you met Kristin Chenoweth.

-Yes, I did! -You were like 10 or something?

-So, I was 10 years old, and I was so lucky.

My mom spoiled me.

I got to see the original Broadway cast,

and they were doing

the Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids auction,

where you can bid to go backstage and win a tour

and meet the cast.

And I kept raising my hand, and my mom was like,

"Ariana, that's enough, that's enough."

And I kept bidding.

-"Ariana, we don't have Ariana Grande money yet.

Okay? We are -- we are living in our world right now.

Yeah, stop -- stop bidding on this."

-But she spoiled me, and I --

and I got to go backstage and meet the cast.

I met Norbert Leo Butz. I met Idina Menzel.

-Oh! -Norbert Leo Butz is great.

-Oh, my God, I love everyone so much.

But we got to Kristen's dressing room,

which was at the very end of the hall,

and she invited me in and let me overstay my welcome.

Her dog peed on the couch.

We cleaned it up together. -No way!

This isn't even part of the auction.

"I didn't know this was part of the prize!"

-Yes. [ Laughter ]

I was like, "Oh, my gosh. Was that a part of the bid?"

-Yeah, "This is amazing. I love this."

You got to clean up Kristin Chenoweth's dog's pee.

-So we cleaned up the pee,

and then she gave me a little, um, wand.

-Yes! You told me -- This is what you told me.

She gave you a wand and, like, glitter or something?

-Oh, yes. The shower gel.

She gave me this little tiny thing of magical shower gel.

And I remember, like, every single day,

dipping a tiny little pinky in and using a little bit.

I used other soap, as well.

-Yeah. No, no. You're very -- No.

If you can smell Ariana, she's --

You're one of our best-smelling guests.

-Oh, thank you. -You're always clean and fresh.

-Thank you so much. -Beautiful smell.

-But, yeah, I really think it was magical now.

I'm, like, looking back,

I'm like, "Maybe that was real. I don't know."

-Congratulations on everything.

And then, the album, which kind of came --

[ Cheers and applause ]

"Eternal Sunshine."

It kind of came as a surprise to the fans, including me,

who I study every move that you make.

I'm like, "When are you going to put an album out?"

I thought you were gonna do it after "Wicked."

-I did, too. I thought that, as well.

Um, I didn't, but, you know... [ Laughter ]

When the strike happened, I went home to see my family,

of course, first and foremost.

I went to see Nona and my dad and my family.

And, um, after that, I just --

I booked a week in the studio,

and I asked the brilliant Max Martin

if he wanted to come be with me.

-Love Max Martin. -Yeah.

And we had this week in the studio.

It was just the two of us.

And by the end of the week,

we had, you know, five songs that are on this album.

And he was like, "Just keep going,

and I'll come back in a month," and it just came out that way.

-You can't stop, though. It's part of you.

It's in you, and you got -- you're such a pro.

When we did our song, our comedy song together,

I was like, "Oh, what do you think of this?"

and you took it to the next level.

You're a pro. You just got in the studio,

you're like, "Is this okay?"

You're harmonizing with yourself.

I'm like, "Are you kidding me?" You're the most talented person

I've ever met in my entire lifetime.

-That's very nice. -And then you put this out,

and it went number one.

Of course. Obviously. There you go.

[ Cheers and applause ]

-Which also --

Which also you broke the record.

You became the the first female artist

to have 14 songs surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.

Yes. -I feel like that's not true.

-40 billion. -That can't be possible.

-40 billion with a B. -That's so strange.

-Isn't that the most bizarre? I know you don't do it

for these awards. -That is so insane.

But come on, just keep going, buddy.

You're so great.

And "The Boy is Mine," you're doing that tonight?

-Yes, we're doing that tonight. [ Cheers and applause ]

And -- And the video comes out tomorrow morning,

directed by Christian Breslauer. -Well, now, no --

no spoilers, obviously, about the video for "The Boy is Mine,"

but I heard rumors -- -Too late.

It's on the tip of my tongue. Go ahead.

-Oh, really? -I'm kidding.

-All right. There's cameos.

-Yes, yes. -People we know.

-Yes, definitely. Yeah, there are a couple little things.

[ Cheers and applause ]

The video stars Penn Badgley, who I've been a fan of --

I've been a fan of my entire life,

so it was just so amazing to work with him.

I'm such a fan. -He's a good guy.

-Yeah. -Super honored to have him.

-"Boy is Mine," that comes out tomorrow,

and call all of your favorite radio stations

and request the song, as well. -Oh, wow.

-Yeah. -Thank you.

-Uh, I wanted to show you something --

I know. Isn't that good that I didn't have --

-Are you my mom or my publicist?

[ Laughter ]

-I'm your mom. Yeah.

I wanted to tell you that tonight.

I don't know why. I just felt like saying that.

'Cause I love radio.

And I listen to you on Sirius XM and all the stuff,

and so why not call them up and talk to your DJs?

-Wow. -"What do you want --

What do you want to hear?"

I want to hear -- -"The Boy is Mine"!

-"There you go. No problem.

I'll play it for you right now on Z107!

-Wow. That's incredible. Thank you for that.

-No problem. -Jimmy Fallon!

-Thank you. No, I mean, I'm trying.

In character. Now I'm out of character.

I've known you for years and your awesome family,

and Nona and your mom, Joan, who I love, and your brother.

And years ago, you gave me one of the nicest things ever.

I don't know if you remember even giving me this.

You gave me a sweatshirt with your baby picture on it.

[ Laughter ]

It's so cute.

And I loved it so much that I --

-I look exactly the same. -You really do, yeah.

-That's exactly -- -I wanted to give you

a little something, too. This is a sweatshirt for you.

This is -- This is me. [ Laughter ]

-Oh, my gosh! -I was 5 years old.

I was 5. I was in the Navy.

I was 5 years old, and I was in the Navy.

And, uh -- [ Laughter ]

And it was -- it was a rough time for me, but --

Yeah. So this is -- that's a gift for you

because I love you so much. -I'm gonna cherish this.

I love it so much. -Congratulations on everything.

"Eternal Sunshine." [ Cheers and applause ]

It's out! -Thank you.

-And Ariana's performing for us later in the show.

Come back more!

We have Ron Howard on tonight's show.

Stick around, everybody. Come back.