Ariana Grande Remembers the Gift from Kristin Chenoweth in "Wicked"
Ariana Grande reflects on a significant early encounter with Broadway’s Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth. Nearly 20 years before portraying Glinda the Good Witch in the upcoming film "Wicked," Grande, now 31, met Chenoweth backstage at a show.
The then 10-year-old Grande received "a little magical body wash" and "a little wand." "I believe it was magical because look at where we are now!" Grande tells PEOPLE. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the Wicked movies feature Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, with the second installment arriving in 2025.
Reflecting on her first experience with the musical, Grande shares her excitement from seeing the Broadway production. In 2003, she attended a performance with her grandmother and met the cast, calling them "kind" members. Grande asserts, "My chemistry as a person permanently altered," adding that she views her life in two categories: "before and after seeing Wicked."
However, body wash and a wand are not her only memories from this encounter. Grande humorously recalls, "Chenoweth’s dog peed on the couch, and I helped her clean it up." Jonathan Bailey, who portrays Fiyero in the new films, interjects, asking if Grande kept any traces of the body wash.
"The pee?" Grande replies with a laugh. She clarifies that she retained a different souvenir: a lip gloss from Stila’s collaboration with Wicked. "It’s probably poison since it’s so old," she says, cherishing it as a piece of extra magic.
Bailey recently shared with PEOPLE that he also has fond memories from his youth seeing Menzel as Elphaba in London. "I was a massive fan," he reveals. "The orchestration—the music—left a lasting impression."
Grande debuted on Broadway in 2008's 13 and has kept in touch with Chenoweth, particularly throughout the auditioning for Wicked. Chenoweth expressed her enthusiasm for Grande's role, praising her standout qualities: "She’s wickedly funny, a fantastic actor, and she will shine in this part."
"Wicked: Part One" hits theaters on Nov. 22, while "Part Two" is scheduled for Nov. 26, 2025. For an in-depth look at the making of Wicked, check out PEOPLE’s new special issue.
Earlier, SSP wrote that Taylor Swift expressed gratitude for TTPD support and Grammy nominations.