Ariana Grande, known for her powerful singing voice, has recently caught fans’ attention for a different reason: her speaking voice. Observers first noticed the change back in March when she presented at the Oscars. Many compared her voice to Austin Butler’s lingering Elvis drawl, suggesting she was struggling to shake off her Wicked character’s voice.
More recently, during an appearance on the Podcrushed podcast with her The Boy Is Mine co-star Penn Badgley, fans noticed her voice changing mid-sentence. A 10-second TikTok clip, which has garnered nearly six million views, shows Ariana speaking in a deeper voice before abruptly switching to a higher pitch. The clip was captioned, “The voice change??”, prompting Ariana to respond.
In the comments, Ariana explained that the change was due to “habit” and “vocal health.” She mentioned that she had spent two years speaking in a particular way for her role as Glinda in Wicked. She added, “I intentionally change my vocal placement (high/low) often depending on how much singing I’m doing.” She emphasized that this was something she had always done, ending her comment with a swift “BYE.”
The Grammy winner’s explanation came after the clip from her Podcrushed appearance went viral. Fans were quick to comment on the noticeable shift in her voice. One user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, “this voice change is sending me 😭😭 regular Ariana was coming out for a second.” Another added, “THE SWITCH IN THE VOICE PLEASE HELP ME😭😭😭.”
Grande’s voice change isn’t a new observation. Fans had previously noted a higher-pitched tone when she presented alongside her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo at the 2024 Academy Awards. Some even compared her altered tone to Austin Butler’s Elvis transformation, where he continued to sound like the rock ‘n’ roll legend even after his film debuted.
One X user commented, “Austin Butler Elvis voice but it’s Ariana Grande Galinda voice,” while another pointed out, “Oh no Austin Butler look what you did to Ariana’s voice.”
Grande’s role in Wicked, which features several musical numbers, could explain the frequent shifts in her voice. The two-time Grammy winner has been preparing for her lead character Glinda’s signature song, “Popular,” and the “Defying Gravity” duet with Erivo. The first part of the film is set to hit theaters on November 27, with the second part arriving on November 26, 2025.
In addition to her acting role, Ariana released her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, earlier this year. She will end 2024 with the release of the long-awaited Wicked film. The film boasts an all-star cast, including Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Broadway performer Ethan Slater, and screen favorite Jeff Goldblum.
Grande’s voice change has sparked curiosity and concern among fans, but her explanation sheds light on the reasons behind it. As she continues to balance her singing career and acting roles, it’s clear that vocal health and adaptability are crucial for the pop star.
With more new music dropping from her Eternal Sunshine album era, including a remix of “The Boy Is Mine” featuring R&B icons Brandy and Monica, Ariana Grande shows no signs of slowing down. She expressed her gratitude to Brandy and Monica in an Instagram post, saying, “my deepest and sincerest thank you to Brandy and Monica, not only for joining me for this moment, but for your generosity, your kindness, and for the countless ways in which you have inspired me.”
As Ariana Grande continues to captivate audiences with her talent and versatility, fans can look forward to more exciting projects and performances from the pop sensation.
