Ariana Grande breaks down in tears as she reveals what Kristin Chenoweth told her before 'Wicked'

From one Glinda to another: Ariana Grande still gets emotional remembering Kristin Chenoweth handing her the wand Evil Filming.

Grande, who plays Glinda in Universal's highly anticipated film, recently broke down in tears as she recalled the reaction and advice from Chenoweth, who famously originated the role in the Broadway musical of the same name, when she told her said she was auditioning for the role.

“We had talked about it for years, but when I finally confessed to her that I wanted to stand up for Glinda, it was something completely different,” Grande said during an episode of the Broadway Podcast Network Evil podcast, Sentimental men (posted Friday at 10 a.m. ET) when asked if Chenoweth had any guidance for her in the role.

“But I finally confessed to her, I said, 'Hey, I think they're doing this now, and I think I want to choose Glinda,' and she went into the bathroom, closed the door and started crying.” , she said.

“It was the sweetest thing in the world. Oh my God, it makes me emotional,” Grande recalled, before pausing to gather her emotions herself. “It was so sweet,” Grande continued, teary-eyed and shaking her head at the memory. “She just said, ‘I was hoping this would happen. I love you and I trust you with this, baby.' She was like, 'Just do your thing.' And I was like, 'Okay.'”

Evilwhich also starred Idina Menzel, premiered on Broadway in 2003. Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire and with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Wizard of Oz The prequel musical traces the journey of the two witches, from students at Shiz University to Elphaba, who became the Wicked Witch of the West. In 2004, the show received ten Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical.

Since being cast in the film, Chenoweth has been vocal about her support for Grande.

“She was really nervous,” Chenoweth told Kelly Clarkson during her performance The Kelly Clarkson Show in April 2023. “She said, 'I want to pay my respects to you, but I'm scared. I want to make you proud.' I say, “Well, you’ve already made me proud, so it doesn’t matter.” You have -.” check – did that.'”

“'What I encourage you to do, Ariana, is to make Glinda your Glinda,'” she continued. “‘Sure, you can take your hat off to me if you want. But actually I just want you to do it.'”

In this interview, Chenoweth also discussed casting and her long-term relationship with Grande. “I’ve known her since she was 10,” she said. “And now I have seen that everything has come full circle. She called me and said, 'I got it.' We sounded like two dolphins talking. I can't wait to see her do it.

Director: Jon M. Chu, Evil The film also stars Cynthia Erivo as Glinda's enemy Elphaba. The adaptation also stars Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang and Marissa Bode.

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The film adaptation is divided into two parts, with the first half scheduled to hit theaters on November 22nd.

The full one Sentimental men The podcast episode with Grande will stream Friday starting at 10 a.m. ET.