Tanya Mosley

This is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Tanya Mosley. The musical Wicked is a top contender at this year's Academy Awards with 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for my guest today, Ariana Grande.

Wicked has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, introducing new layers of the story of Oz that really challenge audiences to look beyond surface appearances and question preconceived notions of good and evil. Ariana Grande stars as the privileged and popular Galinda, who develops a friendship with Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, born with green skin and ostracized by society.

Wicked has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, introducing new layers of the story of Oz that really challenge audiences to look beyond surface appearances and question preconceived notions of good and evil. Ariana Grande stars as the privileged and popular Galinda, who develops a friendship with Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, born with green skin and ostracized by society.

Wicked has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, introducing new layers of the story of Oz that really challenge audiences to look beyond surface appearances and question preconceived notions of good and evil. Ariana Grande stars as the privileged and popular Galinda, who develops a friendship with Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, born with green skin and ostracized by society.

As a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the film is set years before Dorothy arrives in Oz, and it charts the transformations of Elphaba into the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda into Glinda the Good. Here's Grande, as Galinda, singing Popular, a song that gives insights into her character.

As a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the film is set years before Dorothy arrives in Oz, and it charts the transformations of Elphaba into the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda into Glinda the Good. Here's Grande, as Galinda, singing Popular, a song that gives insights into her character.

As a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the film is set years before Dorothy arrives in Oz, and it charts the transformations of Elphaba into the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda into Glinda the Good. Here's Grande, as Galinda, singing Popular, a song that gives insights into her character.

Ariana Grande says that from the moment she first saw the musical on Broadway at 10 years old, her life was divided into two chapters, before Wicked and after. True. This is true?

Ariana Grande says that from the moment she first saw the musical on Broadway at 10 years old, her life was divided into two chapters, before Wicked and after. True. This is true?

Ariana Grande says that from the moment she first saw the musical on Broadway at 10 years old, her life was divided into two chapters, before Wicked and after. True. This is true?

Ariana Grande, welcome to Fresh Air.

Ariana Grande, welcome to Fresh Air.

Ariana Grande, welcome to Fresh Air.

You know, this movie has become a cultural phenomenon. And it's so interesting how the subtext really speaks to the time period that we're in. It's a timeless story, but it also is very timely. Yeah, very timely. You first saw Wicked on Broadway at 10.

You know, this movie has become a cultural phenomenon. And it's so interesting how the subtext really speaks to the time period that we're in. It's a timeless story, but it also is very timely. Yeah, very timely. You first saw Wicked on Broadway at 10.

You know, this movie has become a cultural phenomenon. And it's so interesting how the subtext really speaks to the time period that we're in. It's a timeless story, but it also is very timely. Yeah, very timely. You first saw Wicked on Broadway at 10.

What was it about Wicked? Because I know that you were somewhat of a theater kid. You were seeing lots of musicals, but this one in particular really spoke to you.

What was it about Wicked? Because I know that you were somewhat of a theater kid. You were seeing lots of musicals, but this one in particular really spoke to you.

What was it about Wicked? Because I know that you were somewhat of a theater kid. You were seeing lots of musicals, but this one in particular really spoke to you.

You could see the smile in her eyes.