Check out Ariana Grande on the cover of Interview Magazine!

The soaring songbird is entering a new season of self, and her latest feature spread spotlights that shift.

Fresh off the success of ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the chart-topping vocalist sits down with Hollywood titan Nicole Kidman for an unexpectedly intimate conversation that blends humor, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.

The 33-year-old opens up about rebuilding her confidence after years of burnout, crediting her time as Glinda for helping her shed old wounds and rediscover joy in performing. She also leans into gratitude, calling it a grounding force that keeps her creatively energized rather than overwhelmed.

Across the wide-ranging chat, she also reflects on her new relationship with touring, ahead of her ‘Eternal Sunshine’ trek, and much more.

Full story below…

On Her Return to Music & Approaching Touring Differently

“I do [have a tour coming up] We’re doing a small amount compared to what I used to do back in the day.

I think it’s 45 shows. It’s not that small, but it’s at least half of what I used to do.

I feel really grateful and excited about it in a way that feels so different to me.

I’ve just been healing my relationship to music and touring over the past couple of years.

I spent a lot of time redoing my system when it comes to making music. With Eternal Sunshine, that felt like a very different experience for me. I think the time away from it helped me reclaim certain pieces of it and put certain feelings that maybe belonged to my relationship to fame, or the things that come with being an artist, in a box somewhere else, and say, “Okay. I don’t have to let go of this thing that I love. I can just put those things over here, and not lose sight of my gifts.” So I’ve just been taking baby steps towards healing my relationship to music and touring, and I think my time with Glinda and with acting really helped me build the strength to be able to do that. But I can’t express how grateful I am. I think it just held some traumas for me before, and I feel those dissipating, and that is such an extraordinarily beautiful thing.

There was a tricky adjustment period in the very beginning, when my pop career took off the way that it did. And I hope this doesn’t sound ungrateful, but it’s just a big adjustment when your life changes in that very drastic way.”

On Confidence, Growth and Reclaiming Herself

“I think my time with Glinda and with acting really helped me build the strength to be able to do that. I can’t express how grateful I am. I think it just held some traumas for me before, and I feel those dissipating, and that is such an extraordinarily beautiful thing. I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love. I just wasn’t expecting certain pieces of it.”

On Gratitude and Staying Grounded

“I feel so carbonated by gratitude. I think that gratitude and nervousness are both very carbonating, and as artists we have to balance those things. They’re both great fuel and wonderful energy to keep us going. It’s such a wonderful way to take the pressure off.”

On Humor, Astrology and Lightness

“I think I’m a rooster. I believe I’m the cock, if you will. I have a soft shell. I love Geminis. I’m a Cancer, so I love the water. I forgot we were working right now.”

On Creative Freedom and Letting Go of Fear

“There was so much improv actually… we would be good students and devour the script and get the version exactly how it is on paper, and then we would play. It was so fun and inspiring. It’s such a wonderful way to take the pressure off. That pressure lingers sometimes, but it’s an important thing to be able to ask it to leave for a moment, so you can just do what feels creatively authentic, and then whatever happens, happens.”

On Burnout, Boundaries and Protecting Her Energy

“I used to actually do that quite a bit and it became so exhausting. I felt like, ‘This is my ego doing this.’ Should that dance have to be a part of being an artist, or should that just be put in a box far away from me, and I’ll just do my art and not let that ruin my relationship to it? I really would rather go the cool young person route and just say what’s on my mind sometimes. I really would, but then I just do a meditation and move on.”

On Safety, Support and Feeling Understood

“Isn’t that just such a special gift to love your cast and to be inspired by and feel safe with your scene partners? That makes me so emotional. Thank you. I feel it and I feel grateful. I’m crying. It is. I love it so much. We have to be. It’s our gift, isn’t it?”

On Friendship with Nicole Kidman, Comfort and Emotional Space

“Whenever we crossed paths last year it was such a treat. All of a sudden we were at, like, six different things in a row together and I felt like I had a friend. We definitely just did Zoom therapy, but I loved it so much. I hope I get to hug you soon. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. You’re an incredible inspiration and icon. I love you. I adore you.”

Your thoughts?

[Photo Credit: Interview / Inez & Vinoodh]

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