Ariana Grande reveals surprise career move that’ll ‘scare the absolute s–t’ out of fans: ‘They’ll deal’

Is Ariana Grande saying “thank u, next” to popular music?

The diva down chart-topping hits specified arsenic “7 Rings,” “Positions” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” revealed her plans to break free from nan accustomed grind of her popular profession aft starring successful “Wicked,” nan big-screen adjustment of nan beloved Broadway philharmonic that hits theaters connected Nov. 22.

“I’m gonna opportunity thing truthful scary — it’s gonna scare nan absolute s–t retired of my fans and everyone, but I emotion them, and they’ll deal,” Grande, 31, said connected nan latest section of nan “Las Culturistas” podcast hosted by her “Wicked” co-str Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers.

“I’m ever going to make music, I’m ever going to spell connected stage, I’m ever going to do popular stuff, I pinky promise,” she continued. “But I don’t deliberation doing it astatine nan complaint I’ve been doing it for nan past 10 years is wherever I spot nan adjacent 10 years.”

In fact, playing Glinda successful “Wicked” has led Grande to rediscover her first love: philharmonic theater.

“It is my heart,” said nan the Grammy-winning singer, who, astatine 15, sewage her commencement connected Broadway successful nan philharmonic “13” earlier going connected to go a Nickelodeon prima successful “Victorious.”

“Reconnecting pinch this portion of myself who started successful philharmonic theater, and who loves drama … it heals maine to do that,” said Grande, noting nan reward of “finding roles to usage these parts of myself and put them successful small homes and characters and bits and voices and songs.”

Indeed, transforming into Glinda has made Grande wish for much acting roles wherever she tin besides flex her singing skills.

“Whatever makes sense, aliases immoderate roles we spot fit, aliases wherever I could really do a bully occupation aliases grant nan material, I would really emotion to,” she said. “I deliberation it’s a batch amended for me.”

Grande has besides opened up astir having to audition for nan coveted portion of Glinda — 1 that was originated connected Broadway by Kristin Chenoweth — opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba successful “Wicked.”

“Some members of my squad astatine nan clip were like, ‘You shouldn’t moreover person to audition,’ and I was like, ‘You don’t understand, of people I person to. This is thing that has to beryllium earned,’ ” she told nan New York Times successful an question and reply pinch Erivo.

“I person truthful overmuch to prove, and I threw myself astatine it successful each measurement that I could.”