Ariana Grande Secures Second Consecutive Golden Globe Nomination for Glinda Role

Ariana Grande achieves a rare back-to-back nomination in the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy category at the Golden Globes for portraying Glinda in the ‘Wicked’ films. This marks the first time any performer earns consecutive nods for the same character across multiple installments. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association revealed the 2026 nominees on December 8, spotlighting Grande’s vocal precision and emotional range in the adaptation of the Broadway hit. ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu, grossed $850 million worldwide on a $145 million budget.

Grande’s Glinda evolves from bubbly sorority leader to conflicted ally in the Oz prequel, drawn from Gregory Maguire’s novel. Production filmed principal photography for both parts simultaneously over 160 days in 2023 and 2024 across England and Scotland. Cynthia Erivo co-stars as Elphaba, earning her own nomination in the same category. The ensemble includes Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Marissa Bode as Nessarose, with reshoots completed in summer 2025.

This dual nod underscores Grande’s shift from pop stardom to cinematic musical leads. She previously voiced Princess in ‘Despicable Me’ sequels and starred in ‘Don’t Look Up’. The category expands to six nominees this year, including Lady Gaga for ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ and Zendaya for ‘Challengers’. Voters, totaling 325 post-reform, prioritize performance depth over box office metrics.

Grande told The Hollywood Reporter the honor feels “blindsiding,” adding, “You don’t expect something like this, let alone [for it] to happen twice for the same role.” She prepared with eight months of vocal training under coach Eric Vetro, mastering belting techniques for numbers like “Popular.” Cinematographer Alice Brooks employed IMAX cameras for 70% of sequences to capture sweeping Emerald City sets built on 10 stages at Sky Studios Elstree.

‘Wicked: For Good’, the second chapter, delves deeper into Glinda’s moral dilemmas, with Grande filming darker scenes like the finale in a pink bubble gown. The film scores 88% on Rotten Tomatoes from 350 reviews, lauding its spectacle and score by Stephen Schwartz. Universal Pictures handles global distribution, targeting a November 2025 release for the sequel.

Awards analysts predict Oscar potential, given the Globes’ 80% precursor accuracy for musicals. Grande joins past double nominees like Julie Andrews for ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Victor/Victoria’. The ceremony airs January 11 on CBS, hosted by Mindy Kaling. This milestone elevates ‘Wicked’s awards profile amid competition from ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Moana 2’.

Chu credits Grande’s immersion for Glinda’s authenticity, noting her collaboration with choreographer Kenny Ortega on 15 dance sequences. Costume designer Paul Tazewell sourced 5,000 Swarovski crystals for the lead’s wardrobe. Sound mixing by Oliver Tarney integrates live orchestra recordings from Abbey Road Studios. Grande’s nomination boosts soundtrack sales, topping Billboard charts for 12 weeks.

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