Jennifer Coolidge Praises Ariana Grande As “Wicked” Scores Her Oscar Nod
Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Galinda in the movie Wicked has taken her career to new heights, earning her the first Oscar nomination of her life. At 31 years old, the superstar has joined the ranks of Hollywood’s finest, with her performance in the long-awaited adaptation of the Broadway classic receiving critical acclaim. The film itself has become a phenomenon, grossing over $710 million globally, while also scoring an impressive 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana’s co-star who brought Elphaba to life, has earned her third Academy Award nomination, further highlighting the film’s incredible achievements.
Jennifer Coolidge shared her admiration for Ariana on Instagram after the Oscar nominations were announced. Jennifer posted a graphic celebrating Wicked’s 10 nominations and included a heartfelt message. “When I was watching @wickedmovie for the first time, I knew a million great things were going to happen for @arianagrande because of her performance… and here’s one of them,” she wrote.
The actress went on to congratulate Cynthia Erivo and the entire Wicked team, calling their success “massive.” Ariana, deeply touched, reposted Jennifer’s message and responded, “Oh my heart I love you so much @jennifercoolidge thank you.”
The Positions singer expressed her overwhelming gratitude in a deeply emotional Instagram post. Sharing childhood photos and videos, she reflected on the journey that led her to this monumental moment. “Picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition. I cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise,” she wrote.
She went on to reminisce about studying Judy Garland’s performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow as a child, a moment that inspired her dreams. “I’m so proud of you, tiny,” she said, addressing her younger self.
Ariana also used her post to thank Wicked director Jon M. Chu for believing in her and taking a chance on her talent. She called him “the most unbelievably brilliant leader, human being, and most fierce friend.” Additionally, she poured her love and admiration on Cynthia Erivo, describing her as “my sister” and praising her endless brilliance.
Ariana concluded her post by acknowledging the entire Wicked family, Universal Pictures, and everyone who supported her journey. “I don’t quite have all my words yet, I’m still trying to breathe. but thank you. oh my goodness, thank you.”
As the Best Supporting Actress nominee, Ariana will be competing against Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Perez).
Wicked continues to enchant audiences, and fans are eagerly awaiting the next installment, Wicked: For Good, which is set to release on November 21.
