Ariana Grande recently found herself at the center of social media buzz after a noticeable shift in her speaking voice during an appearance on Penn Badgley’s podcast, Podcrushed. The “Thank U, Next” singer joined Badgley to discuss their shared experiences as former child actors and to touch on the recent controversies surrounding Nickelodeon, the network that launched her career.
However, it wasn’t the content of the conversation that caught the internet’s attention. Instead, it was a moment when Grande’s voice transitioned into a higher, whispery tone. The clip quickly went viral, leading to widespread speculation that the change might be related to her upcoming role as Glinda in the movie adaptation of Wicked.
Addressing the viral moment, Grande took to the comments section of a TikTok video to explain the reason behind her voice change. “It’s a habit (speaking like this for two years) and also vocal health,” she wrote. She added that she “intentionally” changes her “vocal placement” depending on how much singing she’s doing as a technique to preserve her voice.
The 30-year-old pop star emphasized that this is something she has “always done,” accompanied by a smiling emoji. Fans quickly rallied to her defense, with many pointing out that it’s common for people to alter their voices in different settings.
One fan noted, “Y’all acting like y’all’s voices don’t change in certain spaces and settings. Her interview voice is no different, especially cause singers use it to preserve their vocals. Don’t bring no dumb s–t over here.”
Another fan speculated that the voice change might be a technique to help her ease into the operatic resonance required for her role as Glinda. Grande herself has discussed the extensive preparations she underwent for the role, including working with an acting coach and a voice coach daily.
“Everything about me, I had to deconstruct to prove to them I could handle taking on this other person,” Grande explained during a February appearance on The Zach Sang Show. “I had to completely erase popstar Ari, the person they know so well, because it’s even harder to believe someone as someone else when you’re so branded as one thing.”
She added, “I had to go all the way to strip that down, come into my callback with no makeup, my hair down, I looked like I was 11 years old.”
Grande’s voice change has sparked a mix of reactions online. Some users humorously related to the shift, with one commenting, “Me when I have to use my customer service voice.” Another quipped, “Me accidentally slipping my other personalities around the wrong people.”
Despite the criticism, Grande’s fans have been quick to support her. One supporter pointed out, “Y’all acting like y’all’s voices don’t change in certain spaces and settings,” and added, “Her interview voice is no different, especially cause singers use it to preserve their vocals. Don’t bring no dumb s–t over here.”
Grande’s brother, Frankie, also weighed in on the situation, expressing his support for his sister and her boyfriend, Ethan Slater. “I love him, he’s a very sweet guy. I’ve been a fan of him ever since seeing him in SpongeBob [the musical],” he told Too Fab. “And I got to interview him when I was doing the SpongeBob SquarePants podcast. And the Broadway community is a tight-knit family.”
He continued, “He’s very sweet. He’s very, very, very sweet. I just, I adore him. I, honestly, I’ve always just said this, all I want is for my sister to be happy and when she’s happy, I’m happy. So I’m very happy.”
Grande’s relationship with Slater appears to be going strong. A source recently told ET that Grande is “genuinely so happy with Ethan” and that their relationship is serious. “Their bond is organic,” the source said. “Ethan treats Ariana super well and knows her so well. It’s not about external stuff with them. They just have a great time together and appreciate their time with each other.”
Earlier this month, Grande was spotted enjoying a date night with Slater, catching the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals in Sunrise, Florida. The singer was all smiles next to the 32-year-old actor.
As Grande continues to navigate her career and personal life, her fans remain supportive, understanding that her voice changes are a part of her professional technique and vocal health. The viral moment on Penn Badgley’s podcast has only highlighted the lengths to which Grande goes to protect her voice and deliver her best performances.
