Why Ariana Grande Goes by Her Full Name in “Wicked: For Good” Credits but Not in Her Other Movie Roles

Ariana Grande Explains Why She Uses Her Full Name in ‘Wicked’ Credits, Deviating from Other Movie Roles

In a recent interview, Ariana Grande shed light on why she opts to go by her full name in the credits for the ‘Wicked’ films but not in her other movie roles. The 32-year-old pop star is credited as Ariana Grande-Butera in both last year’s ‘Wicked: Part One’ and its latest sequel, ‘Wicked: For Good,’ for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

During a discussion with Hit Network in 2024, Grande shared the sentimental reasoning behind her decision to use her full name for the ‘Wicked’ movies. She expressed, “Technically, it’s my little-girl name. It’s technically little Ari’s name.” She further elaborated, “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.”

Grande continued by revealing that using her full name was a way of honouring her past, as her full name was the one she went by when she first saw the show at 10 years old. Describing it as a full-circle moment, Grande’s last name ‘Grande’ comes from her mother Joan, while ‘Butera’ is from her father Ed, following their divorce during her childhood.

Despite the significance of using her full name for the ‘Wicked’ series, it appears that Grande does not intend to make this change permanent for all her future screen roles. In the recently announced Focker-In-Law sequel and her participation in Ryan Murphy’s ‘American Horror Story’ series next year, she is credited as Ariana Grande without the additional surname.

Looking ahead, Grande’s involvement in Jon M. Chu’s animated Dr. Seuss movie ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’ in 2028 also features her name listed as ‘Ariana Grande’ on the script. While discussing her acting aspirations on the Today show, Grande expressed her current focus on acting, with upcoming projects such as the Eternal Sunshine concert tour scheduled for 2026.

Following her success in ‘Wicked: For Good,’ where she showcased her acting talent, Grande seems eager to dive further into the world of acting while assuring fans that she will continue singing as well. With a range of projects on the horizon, the multi-talented artist is poised to make a mark in the entertainment industry with her versatile skills.

As ‘Wicked: For Good’ continues to captivate audiences in theaters, Grande’s fans eagerly anticipate her upcoming performances on screen and on stage. The talented star’s journey in the world of entertainment continues to evolve, promising exciting developments and memorable contributions in the years to come.