Ariana Grande
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicAriana Grande thanked two special “friends” as he accepted his first major award of the year.
“Thank you guys so much,” the Wicked star, 31, told the crowd at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival. on Friday, January 3, where she received the Rising Star Award from The white lotus star Jennifer Coolidge.
“You don’t know how much this means to me,” Grande continued. “I’ve been performing since I was a kid, so I never thought I’d hear the words ‘rising star’ again at 31, so I wanted to start by thanking my two friends: Botox and Juvederm.”
Grande’s quip was met with laughter from the audience as she added, “I thought I was going to hear ‘slightly fading star’ or ‘sag star’ by now, so thank you.”
Ariana Grande credits her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo for helping her “heal certain parts” of herself. Grande, 31, and Erivo, 37, talked about their friendship in an interview with The New York Times that was published on Wednesday, November 6. “I feel really inspired by her fierce ability to be honest and stand up for herself,” (…)
In September 2023 Grande revealed to Vogue that she’s had Botox and “a ton” of lip fillers over the years, but she has stopped using both in 2018.
“Being exposed to so many voices at a young age, and especially when people have things to say about your appearance at a young age, it’s really hard to know what’s worth hearing or not,” she explained at the time. “When you’re 17, you don’t know that yet.”
In her speech on Friday, Grande also offered thanks Wicked director and “fearless leader” John M. I heardas well as her colleague and “brilliant sister” Cynthia Erivowho portrayed Elphaba to Grande’s Glinda in the 2024 film musical. She said that comedy was her first love, even before she became a pop star.
“Being able to play Glinda the Good was not only the honor of my life, but it felt like a homecoming,” Grande continued. “For those of you who don’t know, I started out in stand-up comedy. My first professional gig was in our living room in Boca Raton, Florida, (to entertain) my grandparents. I was 4 years old and my mom gave me 5 dollars.
She continued: “I learned early on that laughter is one of our greatest escapes, and I remember the contagious effect it had on not only the people in my life, but how it fed me in return. And the last 10 years, when I was really focused on music, I really missed that feeling. So it really feels like the beginning of a new chapter.”
The Grammy winner is also nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award for her role as Galinda, aka Glinda the Good, in Wicked: Part One.
“Inside WickedAriana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda elevates her to new heights with a powerful performance that beautifully combines her exceptional musical talent, brilliant characterization and impeccable comedic timing,” Palm Springs Film Festival Chairman Nachatar Singh Chandy said in a statement about the honor of the singer/actress.
“Ariana is an iconic global performer who has seamlessly transitioned to film in her first major leading role, proving that she is a versatile and undeniable talent,” continued Chandy. “This role will surely be the beginning of the many accolades she will earn throughout her acting career. We are honored to honor Ariana Grande with the Rising Star Award.
