It’s the end of an era — and Ariana Grande is signing off with pure gratitude.
On Sunday, November 23, the Wicked star shared a heartfelt letter to fans, thanking them for their unwavering support throughout the releases of Wicked and Wicked: For Good, the latter debuting just this Friday. For nearly two years, Grande and co-star Cynthia Erivo have been on a heavy press run filled with emotional, widely shared moments.
But for Grande, stepping into Glinda was a lifelong dream — one she’d held onto for more than two decades.
“Oz has been my safe space for as long as 1 can remember,” she wrote. “The characters within these pages teach us how to love unconditionally with one’s whole heart — to laugh; to forgive (even when it’s most painful); to fiercely protect ourselves and each other (yes, sometimes even from each other); to look inward; to be curious and not afraid of acknowledging our own wickedness in order to grow away from it and toward goodness, because we all contain both; to see the beauty in all things; especially the unfamiliar; to be honest, because to be honest is to be kind; and to fight for what is truly, deeply good… even if it takes us a long, scary walk down the Yellow Brick Road to discoverate what that means for each of us.”
She went on to reflect on seeing Wicked on Broadway for the first time at just 10 years old. After signing onto the role in 2021 and filming both movies back-to-back, she said the experience taught her more than she ever imagined.
For Grande, the most meaningful part of the entire Wicked era has been watching fans embrace the films and find joy in the characters.
“You’ll never know what it truly means to me,” she wrote. “I’m so thankful to have been a tiny piece of this bubble puzzle and to be your Glinda.”
Though her promo duties are officially wrapped, the final stretch of the journey hasn’t been entirely smooth. Just days before the Wicked: For Good premiere, the “Twilight Zone” singer revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19. And weeks earlier, a heckler pushed past security and tried to grab her on the red carpet during the Singapore premiere.
Despite the bumps, Wicked: For Good delivered huge numbers, pulling in $150 million at the box office over the weekend — marking the biggest opening ever for a Broadway adaptation.
