Yahoo Movies Ariana Grande explains why she uses real name in Wicked
Ariana Grande has explained why she decided to use her full name in the closing credits of Wicked.
The Grammy-winning singer will soon be seen on the big screen in Jon M Chu's anticipated movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, playing Glinda the Good Witch opposite Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
It's been confirmed that the film credits 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 her full name instead of her stage name during an appearance on The Streaming Service with Justin Hill, Grande said it was a "really lovely way of honouring" her younger self.
"Technically, it's my little girl name. Technically it's little Ari's name," she shared. "I just feel like this experience was such a homecoming for me. I feel like I came home to myself in a lot of ways through what I learned from Glinda, from Elphaba and, you know, that was my name when I went to see the show when I was 10 years old — and it felt like a really lovely way of honouring that."
It comes after Grande addressed the initial criticism she received over her casting as Glinda in 2021, with musical theatre fans sharing their reservations about her pop background.
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"I felt a little bit of the initial nervousness or the sort of preconceived notions about what I might be able to deliver or not deliver, or why I would be wrong or whatever," she said on the Sentimental Men podcast.
"Going off of 'Side to Side', I probably would've said the same thing. I probably would've said, 'Why the f***? Kill me. I've waited 20 years for this. Kill me.' I would've said that – as a fan from the outside knowing of only '7 Rings', probably – I'd say, 'Well, that's bullshit.' So, you know, I get it."
Wicked is being split into two movies, with Part One premiering on November 22. Part Two is scheduled to follow in November 2025.
Wicked: Part One will be released in cinemas on November 22.
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