Ariana Grande’s March-released album, “Eternal Sunshine,” has already made waves as one of the year’s top-selling female efforts. However, the Grammy-winning artist is set to elevate its success even further by confirming a long-rumored deluxe edition. Grande has previously delighted her fans, affectionately known as #Arianators, with a “slightly deluxe” version of the chart-topping project. During her interview on the “Shut Up Evan” podcast on Tuesday, July 9, she confirmed that an official “Sunshine” repackage is indeed on the way.
“I have specific ideas, and I’m going to take my time to make them beautiful and perfect, and then we’ll see,” Grande shared. “I’ll let it be a surprise!” While the re-release isn’t coming “super soon,” Ariana assured her supporters that she’s putting the final touches on the effort. She reaffirmed this status by sharing a recap of the message to her 378 million followers on Instagram.
As if that news wasn’t enough to send music lovers into a frenzy, the 31-year-old pop diva also teased plans for a “mini tour” in support of “Sunshine.” “I think it would be a really lovely idea to be able to trickle in some shows in between the two Wicked films. I think there’s a version of that that exists,” she said, emphasizing that the “sampling of shows” would not follow her traditional touring pattern. Although no details are set in stone yet, just the thought was enough to excite her dedicated followers.
If the tour does come to fruition, it would land between “Wicked: Part 1” (to be released November 22, 2024) and “Wicked: Part 2” (set for November 26, 2025). Stream “Shut Up Evan” on Spotify and Apple Music to hear the full interview.
Looks like Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” is going to shine a little longer. On the latest episode of the “Shut Up Evan” podcast posted Tuesday, July 9, the 31-year-old pop star confirmed that an extended version of her Billboard 200-topping seventh studio album is for sure on its way. However, fans will have to be patient as they wait for its release.
When asked about the possibility of a deluxe version, something she first teased in June on Penn Badgley’s “Podcrushed” podcast, Grande told host Evan Ross Katz that it was “definitely” in the works. “I definitely thought this album was perfect as it was, and I still kind of feel that way,” she said. “With time, I’ve been inspired to write more songs and inclined to do this deluxe. I’m really tempted to put a creative button on this storytelling, and I have a lot of ideas.”
“It’s an idea that’s become something I can’t not do,” she continued before teasing, “The final song on it is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.”
The downside, however, is that the “Eternal Sunshine” deluxe won’t be coming in the near future. Grande is still busy promoting the upcoming “Wicked” films, in which she stars alongside Cynthia Erivo. “I don’t just want to slap the music onto what I already think is a perfect version of the album,” she explained. “I want to let it live in this current state a little while longer, take my time to execute my vision for this deluxe and make sure that it’s worth the wait and as special as I think it can be.”
“I’ll let it be a surprise, but I wouldn’t say any time super soon,” the Grammy winner added. “I’m also trying to navigate the timing of the ‘Wicked’ of it all, because I really want to give my entire self to that when it’s time to shift gears. I’m working on it constantly, and I’ll have more information on timing soon.”
Grande had a similar answer when asked whether she’s planning to do live shows in support of “Eternal Sunshine,” another topic she previously spoke about on “The Zach Sang Show.” “I still want it too,” she reiterated to Katz. “It would be a really lovely idea to be able to trickle in some shows in between the two Wicked films. It’s for a multitude of reasons not going to be a tour in the way that I used to tour.”
“It would be a mini little sampling of shows, I think,” she added. “It’s something that my team and I are working on coming up with options for.”
“Eternal Sunshine” indeed. Ariana Grande has revealed a deluxe issue of her chart-topping album is on its way, but the waiting game will be a long one. The Grammy winner appeared on an episode of the “Shut Up Evan” podcast on Tuesday and teased a deluxe set of songs that are “definitely” in the works. Though Grande did not confirm a release date for this edition, she did tell host Evan Ross Katz that it wouldn’t be arriving anytime soon.
“I want to let [the album] live in this current state a little while longer,” she said, adding she wants to “take my time to execute my vision for this deluxe and make sure that it’s worth the wait and as special as I think it can be.”
On the brighter side, Grande teased what fans can eventually expect from this surprise bundle. “I definitely thought this album was perfect as it was, and I still kind of feel that way,” she said. “With time, I’ve been inspired to write more songs and inclined to do this deluxe. I’m really tempted to put a creative button on this storytelling, and I have a lot of ideas. It’s an idea that’s become something I can’t not do.”
She continued by teasing one song in particular, referring to it as “the final song,” and said it was “one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.”
The pause on the deluxe issue’s release will be due to her being busy promoting the upcoming “Wicked” films, in which she stars alongside Cynthia Erivo. “I’ll let it be a surprise, but I wouldn’t say any time super soon,” she added. “I’m also trying to navigate the timing of the ‘Wicked’ of it all, because I really want to give my entire self to that when it’s time to shift gears. I’m working on it constantly, and I’ll have more information on timing soon.”
Grande also previously teased a tour on “The Zach Sang Show,” something fans have been itching for, especially after seeing clips of her performance at the Met Gala earlier this year. “I still want it too,” she said to Katz about a tour. “It would be a really lovely idea to be able to trickle in some shows in between the two Wicked films. It would be a mini little sampling of shows, I think. It’s something that my team and I are working on coming up with options for.”
The first installment of “Wicked” is scheduled for November 22, 2024, with the sequel to follow on November 26, 2025. Grande stars as Glinda in a cast that also includes Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University headmaster Madame Morrible, Ethan Slater as Boq, and Bowen Yang as Pfannee.
Source: Variety, Billboard
