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Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and More Best Red Carpet Moments From the ‘Wicked’ Premiere
Nobody, in all of Oz, can ever bring this good witch down.
Ariana Grande received her first Golden Globe nomination, in the Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture category, for her role as Glinda in Wicked.
"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness," Ariana gushed in a Dec. 9 Instagram Story. "I am floored and honored to be recognized by the members of the @goldenglobes, crying (of course). It's impossible to find my words, but I am simply so grateful for this acknowledgement."
In general, the musical adaptation of the beloved Broadway show defied gravity at the Dec. 9 nomination ceremony for the 2025 Golden Globes, earning nods for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and a Best Actress nod for Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Naturally, Ariana gave her Elphie a shoutout for her achievement, too.
"Congratulations to my brilliant, dear sister," Ariana continued, "and all of our Ozian family on this celebration of our work. I cannot possibly express my gratitution."
And while Ariana captivated audiences with her operatic voice and over-the-top comedic charm as Glinda, for the “7 Rings” singer, her journey with the iconic character has been more than a decade in the making.
“My first time seeing Wicked, I was 10 years old, and I am so lucky,” she told Deadline in November 2024. “I got to see the original Broadway cast. I just remember my life changing, and knowing my life in two chapters: before seeing Wicked and after seeing Wicked.”
But young Ariana didn’t just watch the Tony-Award winning musical that day, she also had the incredible opportunity to go backstage and meet the original Broadway cast, including the OG Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth, whom she later became close friends with.
“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.” she told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in June 2024. “I kept raising my hand, and my mom was like, ‘Ariana, that’s enough, that’s enough.’”
However, Ariana ignored her mother Joan Grande and let her little hand defy gravity.
“She spoiled me, and I got to go backstage and meet the cast,” she said. “I met Norbert Leo Butz. I met Idina Menzel. We got to Kristin’s dressing room, which was at the very end of the hall, and she invited me in and let me overstay my welcome.”
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
It was just five years later that Ariana made her Broadway debut in 13: the musical—alongside her future Victorious costar, Liz Gillies. Four years after that, at the start of her now-booming pop career, she released a smash remix of Glinda’s “Popular,” with the artist MIKA called “Popular Song.”
And for Ariana, working on Wicked not only honors her love of the musical, it also brought her back to her days on The Great White Way.
“I mean, I’ve said this, but I feel like this whole experience has been such a homecoming for me,” she told The Hollywood Reporter last month. “Because again, I started in theater. We started on the stage and, you know, to have gone so many different routes along the way, and to kind of find my way back here. I think it’s been really healing for my soul.”
Keep reading to see how Ariana and Cynthia brought their love for Glinda and Elphaba to the red carpet with their wickedly chic fashion.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Coming Attractions
Presenting together at the 2024 Oscars in March, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were already teasing what was in store from the first installment of Wicked, coming to theaters Nov. 22.
Erivo, who plays green-hued "bad" witch Elphaba, looked ready for both the red carpet and battle in leather Louis Vuitton with reptilian ruffles down the back. And Grande, who costars as "good" witch Glinda, channeled old Hollywood glam in a powder-pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture column gown magically accented with enough fabric to provide a peplum, a stole, a bustle and a train all at once.
David Becker/WireImage
They Know About Popular
The Wicked train chugged into CinemaCon in April with Grande all aboard in a white and pink Oscar de la Renta minidress that resembled a blooming flower, while Erivo sported a green and silver Versace ensemble, including fierce thigh-high satin boots.
Not the colors of dear old Shiz, but she has an open invitation to play Quidditch for Slytherin.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images
Très Chic
Gold for best dressed went to team Wicked at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the costars were spotted at multiple events.
But first, they kicked off the Games at the July 26 Opening Ceremony, Erivo in a strapless green Louis Vuitton gown with a gravity-defying silhouette and Grande in a drop-waist powder-pink Thom Browne dress that would've made Audrey Hepburn proud.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops
Erivo, who also performed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the event, looked wickedly good in a glittering emerald gown by Naeem Khan at the 2024 Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala on Oct. 19.
Another popular choice: Grande's leather-trimmed polka dot ball gown courtesy of Balmain.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Coat of Many Colors
Erivo accessorized her T-shirt and cropped jeans with bright-green pumps and a patterned Louis Vuitton coat at an Oct. 28 screening of Wicked at the DGA Theater in New York.
Grande looked ready for her first day of witch university in a cream-colored button-down vest and matching skirt by Atelier Versace.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for WSJ. Magazine Innovators Awards
Peas in a Pod
It's unclear if Grande floated to the WSJ. Magazine 2024 Innovator Awards inside a magical bubble, but her delicately embroidered white Vivienne Westwood gown was fit for such a journey.
Meanwhile, Erivo's Erdem dress—gray pinstripes overlaid with embellished green silk—was Land of Oz meets Wall Street.
Saverio Marfia/Getty Images
Good Witch of the North
Grande went full Glinda at the Nov. 3 Australian premiere of Wicked in a pink Vivienne Westwood ball gown.
Don Arnold/WireImage
Far From Basic
Erivo leaned into Elphaba's wicked future at the premiere in a black Louis Vuitton strapless gown, accessorized with a massive lion's head choker and another bedazzled green manicure.
"I love this outfit so much because it speaks to my character," the British actress told Vogue Australia before heading to the red carpet (or, in this case, yellow brick road). "It reminds me of wings and defying gravity."
Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Every Look There Is or Was
Erivo cast yet another spell at the Nov. 5 Wicked photocall in Australia, this time in an emerald and black Marc Jacobs blouse paired with a black embroidered skirt.
And for her last trick: Dividing the eye's attention between her dainty fascinator and the towering multistrap Mary Jane platforms that added at least 6 inches to her 5-foot-1 frame.
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