Ariana Grande is saying “Thanks, Next” to the haters who criticized her voice changed during a recent podcast appearance on crushed pod show presented by Penn Badgley.
Sitting down for a new episode of Shut up Evan podcast with Evan Ross Katz, the 31-year-old singer addressed the viral video in which she is heard switching from a lower, throatier voice to a higher-pitched sound. The actress — who plays Glinda in the upcoming Evil film — told Katz that changing tone is “a normal thing that people do, especially if you have a big reach.”
She explained that for a long time she trained her voice to sing and speak in a higher tone to “dream paper” that sometimes he still sneaks in, even when she’s not exactly expecting it.
“I spent a lot of time playing a character every single day,” Grande said. “[I trained]my voice to do different things for a long time before I left for London and before all of this. The voice is in the body, it’s an instrument and muscle memory is a real thing.”
Additionally, Grande called the criticism and mockery a double standard, pointing out actors and actresses who go “method” for a role. The term applies to an acting technique in which the actor tries to become the character they are portraying, both on-screen and off.
“I mean, you see male actors, of course people make jokes here and there too about everybody who goes through something like that, but it’s always after the fact where they’re like, ‘Wow, what dedication to his craft! What an incredible transformation! He’s a brilliant performer!’ But then it’s like, God forbid he sneezes like Glinda or something,” Grande said.
She added: “(So) I’m crazy (…) it’s the weirdest thing.”
The podcast host — a longtime friend of Grande — agreed, telling skeptical listeners that “both” tones are her real voice and that it all depends on the time of day, the role or show she’s working on, and how intense her vocal routine is at that moment.
He also added that many people lack a sense of “vocal literacy” or an understanding of what it is to be a singer. Katz even cited Celine Dion who also opened up about his own careful care of his instrument. In the singer’s recent documentary “My Heart Will Go On,” I’m CelineShe shared that she needs to sleep 12 hours a night and avoid alcohol completely to maintain her voice.
Grande — who made her Broadway debut in 13 more than a decade and a half ago — agreed wholeheartedly, saying: “(It’s) a full-time commitment and a lifestyle; it’s not something you can play around with.”
Following a video of Grande’s appearance in crushed pod racked up millions of views on TikTok, Grande responded to a repost of the podcast episode with an explanation.
“habit (talking like this for two years) and also vocal health 🙂 🍵 I intentionally change my vocal position (high/low) often depending on how much I’m singing 😭 I’ve always done this BYE,” she wrote in a TikTok comment in June.
Though she may not be singing anymore EvilGrande’s voice is still on her mind “24/7” — especially as she continues to make appearances on TV, in movies, and on podcasts to promote the upcoming film adaptation.
Grande is also promoting her latest album, Eternal ray of sunshinewhich was released in March. While trying to keep her intentions to take the album on the road under wraps, Grande told Katz that she is considering a “mini tour” for her devoted fans.
“I think it would be a really lovely idea to be able to squeeze in some shows in between the two Evil movies. I think there’s a version of that,” she told Katz. Here’s hoping!
Wicked: Part One will be released on November 22, 2024 while Wicked: Part Two is expected on November 26, 2025. The films also Cynthia Erivo, Bridgerton‘s Jonathan BaileyOscar Winner Michelle Yeoh It is Jeff Goldblum.
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