Ariana Grande woke up to incredible news on Thursday as she received her first Oscar nomination. The talented star earned a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category for her portrayal of Glinda in the musical Wicked.
Grande took to Instagram to share her initial reaction to the nomination. In her post, she reflected on her childhood and her love for Wicked and The Wizard of Oz. She mentioned her younger self, who would watch Judy Garland's iconic performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" before the show began.
Expressing her gratitude, Grande wrote, "I'm humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny Ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' just before the big, beautiful bubble entered." Accompanying her heartfelt message was a photo of Grande dressed as Dorothy when she was a child.
The singer also admitted that the news brought her to tears, leaving her momentarily speechless. "I don't quite have all my words yet; I'm still trying to breathe," Grande confessed. She ended her post with a gracious thank you, expressing her overwhelming appreciation for the recognition.
Grande didn't hesitate to extend her appreciation to the people who believed in her and made her nomination possible. She thanked the Academy for the acknowledgment and director Jon M. Chu for taking a chance on her. She described Chu as an incredibly talented leader, a remarkable human being, and a fiercely loyal friend.
Furthermore, she expressed her pride in her Wicked family, particularly addressing her co-star Cynthia Erivo, who played Elphie. Grande showered Erivo with praise, stating, "your brilliance is never-ending, and you deserve every flower (tulip) in every garden. I love you unconditionally, always."
Although overwhelmed by the news, Grande concluded her post by thanking her team at Universal and her loved ones for their unwavering support. She ended with a playful reference to The Wizard of Oz, exclaiming, "lemons and melons and pears, oh my. ????"
