This is why Ariana Grande is using her real name in the Wicked credits, and more news

Ariana Grande is sharing the heartfelt reason behind using her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera, in the credits for the upcoming Wicked movie.

“Technically, it’s my little girl name! It’s little Ari name,” she revealed, explaining it was the name she grew up with. “I just feel like this experience was such a homecoming for me. I feel like I came home to myself in a lot of ways through what I learned from Glinda, from Elphaba,” Ariana shared during a radio chat.

She continued, “That was my name when I went to see the show when I was 10 years old. It felt like a really lovely way of honoring that. It felt really full circle. It just felt like something I wanted to do.”

Ariana’s full name combines her mom Joan Grande and dad Edward Butera‘s surnames. The “We Can’t Be Friends” artist chose to shorten her name professionally, similar to her half-brother Frankie Grande – whose parents are Joan and Victor Marchione. The 41-year-old performer was born Frank James Michael Grande Marchione.

QUICKIES

Legendary music producer Quincy Jones has passed away at the age of 91. [Variety]
Chloe Grace Moretz comes out as gay while endorsing Kamala Harris for president. [PinkNews]
RHOBH alum Teddi Mellencamp files for divorce from husband Edwin Arroyave after 13 years of marriage. [Page Six]
Martha Stewart says Ryan Reynolds is very serious in real life and not so funny. [Us Weekly]
Actress Margot Robbie has given birth to her first child. [Teen Vogue]
Jason Kelce smashes a man’s phone after he calls Travis Kelce a homophobic slur. [E! Online]
Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek revealed he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and has been privately dealing with the news. [People]
Ben Affleck has only good things to say about Jennifer Lopez‘s performance in Unstoppable. [E! Online]
Chris Martin fell through a trap door during a Coldplay concert in Australia. [Billboard]

INSTAGRAM QUICKIE

Ariana Grande goes Instagram official with Ethan Slater (but you’ve gotta scroll).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande)

VIDEO QUICKIE

Chappell Roan debuts a new song, “The Giver.”

Chappell Roan performing her brand new single ‘She Gets The Job Done’ on SNL! ✨ pic.twitter.com/WjCxpSlXxF
— best of chappell roan (@bestofchappell) November 3, 2024

LINK LOVE

Travis Kelce described himself as “a guy that can’t really read that well” [Celebitchy]
Andrew Scott is serving it in a cropped, sleeveless top. [Go Fug Yourself]
Nip/Tuck and Fantastic Four star Julian McMahon has passed away at 56. [Boy Culture]
The cable company founded by Dr. Evil, er, Dr. Phil, has filed for bankruptcy. [Pajiba]
Frankie Grande is set to perform at the 2025 Attitude PRIDE Awards Europe. [Kenneth in the 212]