Ariana Grande explained why she decided to use her full name in the end credits of Wicked.

The Grammy-winning singer will soon be seen on the big screen in Jon M Chu’s highly anticipated film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, playing Glinda the Good Witch opposite. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

The film has been confirmed to credit Grande with her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera, which incorporates the last names of her mother Joan Grande and father Edward Butera.

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Explaining the decision to use his full name instead of his stage name during an appearance on The streaming service with Justin Hill, Grande said it was a “really nice way to honor” her younger self.

“Technically, that’s my little girl’s name. Technically, that’s little Ari’s name,” she shared. “I just feel like this experience was a real homecoming for me. I feel like I came back to myself in a lot of ways because of what I learned from Glinda, of Elphaba and, you know, that was my name when I went to see the show when I was 10 – and it was a really nice way to honor that.”

It comes after Grande responded to early criticism she received regarding her casting as Glinda in 2021, with musical theater fans sharing their reservations about its pop journey.

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“I felt a little bit of initial nervousness or sort of preconceived notions about what I might deliver or not deliver, or why I would be wrong or whatever,” she told the show. Sentimental men podcast.

“Coming out of ‘Side to Side,’ I probably would have said the same thing. I probably would have said, ‘What the hell? Kill me. I waited 20 years for this. Kill me. ‘I would have said that – as an outside fan probably only knowing ‘7 Rings’, I would have said, ‘Well, that’s bullshit.’ So, you know, I understand.”

Wicked is being divided into two filmswith First part premiere November 22. Part two should follow in November 2025.

Villain: Part One will be released in theaters on November 22.

Independent journalist, digital spy After completing her joint degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined digital spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022. In this role, Iona wrote on both news and features, specializing in television and films. Following her internship, Iona now works for DS as a freelance journalist.

Iona reported Black Adam red carpet and interviewed celebrities ranging from love island stars in the cast of Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid.