Ariana Grande To Scale Back Pop Career For Musicals

Ariana Grande has shared some shock news with her fans this week, revealing her plans to scale back her pop music career to focus on musicals.

Opening up about her music career on the Las Culturistas podcast on iHeartRadio, the Into You singer began, “I’m gonna say something so scary – it’s gonna scare the absolute shit out of my fans and everyone, but I love them, and they'll deal, and we'll be here forever.”

She continued, “I’m always going to make music, I’m always going to go on stage, I’m always going to do pop stuff, I pinky promise. But I don’t think [I’ll be] doing it at the rate I’ve been doing it for the past ten years is where I see the next ten years.”

Grande, who plays one of the lead roles in the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked, said that her role in the movie has allowed her to “reconnect” with a part of herself that started in musical theatre and enjoys delving into comedy.

“It heals me to do that - finding roles to use these parts of myself and put them in little homes and characters and bits and voices and songs,” she said. “Whatever makes sense, or whatever roles we see fit, or where I could really do a good job or honour the material, I would really love to. I think it's a lot better for me. I’m getting emotional!”

You can watch the interview below.

Wicked Part 1 – the film separated into two parts – will premiere in Australian cinemas on Thursday, 21 November.

Grande portrays Galinda Upland, a popular young woman who transforms into Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The film also stars Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Dinklage, and others.

In addition to portraying Glinda, Grande will sing in the film, with her character attached to the songs No One Mourns The Wicked, Dear Old Shiz, What Is This Feeling?, Dancing Through Life, Popular, One Short Day, and Defying Gravity.

Ariana Grande released her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, in March of this year.