Billie Eilish Interviews Ariana Grande About ‘Wicked’ and Agrees They Need to Collaborate: ‘We Need To Do That’

After telling Grande she’s seen Wicked three times and listens to it before her shows, she also revealed that she has long known of Grande’s fandom for the franchise. “I know too much about you,” said Eilish. “But my question is: You’re such a diehard and I feel like you know the play and music so well. Going into it, what were things for you that were totally non negotiable?”

Grande replied by saying she felt like “the nerdy Oz historian that worked on the movie. Like the gatekeeping fangirl in the room – and I’m somewhat of a purist when it comes to making musical changes, especially.” She offered one example of how she protected Glinda, saying how composer Stephen Schwartz had a version of “Popular” in the very beginning that had “hip hop drums” in it. “I was like, ‘how do I have this conversation in the most loving respectful way?’” recalled Grande. “I was like, ‘this cannot happen.’ How different would life be today if ‘Popular’ had trap drums in it?’ There’s a time and place and it’s not with Glinda because she claps on 1 and 3…I mustered up the courage to say, ‘respectfully, I think maybe she doesn’t have that in her.’”

Eilish later asked Grande what her audition process was like, to which Grande replied: “It was crazy.” She said it was a “three-month process and I was just so excited that they were going to take a chance to see me, because I didn’t know if they would be able to trust that I should even be in the room for something like that.” Grande said she trained with her acting and vocal coach for three months before her first audition, during which she sang four songs, both for Glinda and Elphaba: “No One Mourns the Wicked,” “Popular,” “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity.” But to Grande, her role was always clear: “I was in all pink – it was obvious.”

After recounting to Grande how long she had been rooting for her to land her dream role as Glinda, Eilish started laughing after making eye contact with her mom who was seated in the front row next to Eilish’s dad – and a few seats down from Grande’s mom. “My mom is laughing at me because I’m such a fan,” shared Eilish. 

“But I remember finding out that you got the job through the internet and I was like, f–k yeah, that’s so sick, she’s wanted that for so long.’ I didn’t even know you then, at all. I was so excited.”

“Oh my god, that makes me so happy to know.” 

“I’ve been rooting for you, b—h,” said Eilish through more laughter.

“I was wondering about continuity,” Elilsh asked, saying it’s “f—ing crazy” that Grande and her co-stars sang live in the film. “I didn’t know that and I got into an argument before I saw the movie because I saw the trailer and somebody said you’re singing live and I was like, ‘there’s absolutely no way.’ And I got scolded.” 

Grande found common ground in her reply, telling Eilish, “you know what it’s like to do a tour. We’re doing so many shows in a row and Cynthia and I are both Broadway girls, we know what it’s like to do eight shows a week. [Singing live] is imperative, I think, for the emotional integrity of what happens in the scenes. And, for Glinda, particularly the ability to improve, you can’t be married to a track, you can’t be married to certain choices. You have to be able to have the freedom to surprise each other and play and make things up on the spot – or if it’s an emotional scene, you’re not going to sound perfect. Your voice is going to crack and that’s really special to preserve and have that option available. It’s what we love to do, we love to sing and are Broadway girls. And also, there are so many amazing Glindas and Elphebas who do eight shows a week so if we have to do it 27 takes in a row, we’re going to do in solidarity with our sister witches.”

After telling the crowd, “A few more songs and then we go,” the two erupted into laughter at Eilish’s slip. “Songs? Did I say songs? Oh my god, I meant questions. I’m on tour! I’m used to saying that.” 

“We do need to do that, though, at some point,” Grande said, prompting loud cheers and applause from throughout the audience. 

“I would love to do that,” confirmed Eilish. To which a fan yelled, “Do it now!”

Eilish then tried to ask Grande the next question before admitting, “I’m so flustered. I’m not supposed to be doing this kind of thing.”

To which Grande assured, “This is my favorite version of it.”