Inside Kristin Chenoweth's Relationship With Ariana Grande

Despite her success in the music industry, the past few years have not been entirely easy on superstar Ariana Grande. During her 2017 performance at Manchester Arena, a suicide bomber killed 22 concertgoers, as NBC News reported. Then, in 2018, Grande's ex-boyfriend Mac Miller died of an accidental overdose, due to a combination of alcohol and cocaine laced with fentanyl, per the BBC. Not long after that, Grande split with her fiance, comedian Pete Davidson, following a much-publicized whirlwind romance.

During these turbulent times, Grande needed a strong support system of friends beside her. As it so happens, she has plenty of famous besties, including Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Troye Sivan, via SCMP. Following the release of her album "thank u, next" — in which she addresses a number of these tribulations — Grande took to Twitter to thank her friends and fans. "I hope u enjoy this album. this music, you guys and my friends saved my life. love u. sry. iight bye," the singer shared, via InTouch Weekly.

While not many of us can count our childhood heroes amongst our close friends, such is the case for Ariana Grande and singer-actor Kristin Chenoweth, who starred as the original Glinda the Good Witch in Broadway's "Wicked," according to People. The outlet details how the pair first met backstage after one of Chenoweth's performances, when Grande was only 10 years old. Fast forward to 2016, and the two collaborated together in "Hairspray Live!," an experience that altered Grande's life forever, per Music Times. "When we were doing Hairspray Live, you would pitch a joke, or like, a melody change here and there, and ask, 'Does this add value?'" Grande recalled. "As a performer, to me, that changed my life entirely."

In 2021, People reported that the duo once again reunited onscreen when Chenoweth served as Grande's advisor for Season 21 of "The Voice." But it's not all work and no play! As CheatSheet notes, the two also know how to have fun together. "We like bowling, we like truffle pizza from Craig's here in LA," Chenoweth told People. And given their close friendship, it comes as no surprise that Chenoweth was thrilled to learn that Grande would reprise her role as Glinda in the film adaptation of "Wicked," per People. "I'm not sure if I've ever been this proud. From the very first day I met you ... you were destined for this role. Congratulations @arianagrande!," Chenoweth posted to Instagram. "The best Glinda you will be ... I love you!!!"