Ariana Grande showed her wicked sense of humor as she received her first major honor in 2025.
“Thank you so much,” the singer/actress told attendees at the Palm Springs International Film Festival after accepting the Rising Star Award from Jennifer Coolidge.
Grande, who performed hilarious impressions of Coolidge both recently and during it Saturday night live performed in October and then took the stage to confirm her friendship with White lotus Emmy winner, calling Coolidge “a comedic genius whose brilliance has inspired my entire life.”
“You don’t know how much this means to me,” Grande continued. “I’ve been performing since I was a kid, so I never thought I’d hear the words ‘rising star’ again at the age of 31, so I wanted to start by thanking my two friends: Botox and Juvederm.”
“I thought by now I’d hear ‘slightly withering star’ or ‘falling star’, so thanks,” she joked as the room erupted in laughter.
After giving thanks Wicked To director Jon M. Chu, whom she described as her “fearless leader” and her co-star Cynthia Erivo, whom she called her “brilliant sister,” Grande shared how comedy shaped her life even before singing.
Jennifer Coolidge on life as a surprise superstar: ‘People love that I’m an outsider’
“Being able to play Glinda the Good was not only the honor of my life, but it felt like a homecoming,” Grande continued. “For those of you who don’t know, I got my start in stand-up comedy. My first professional gig was in our living room in Boca Raton, Florida. [to entertain] my grandparents. I was 4 years old and my mom gave me $5.”
“I learned early on that laughter is one of our greatest escapes and I remember the contagious effect it had, not only on the people in my life, but how it in turn fed me. And the past 10 years when I’ve been really focused on music , I’ve really missed that feeling, so it really feels like the beginning of a new chapter.”
Ariana Grande accepts the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
For her supporting performance as Galinda aka Oz’s Glinda the Good in Chu’s direction Wicked: Part OneGrande is also nominated for Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and more this season. The film and its sequel Wicked: For good (in theaters November 21) stars Erivo as Elphaba aka the future Wicked Witch of the West.
Of the Grammy winner’s honor at the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala, Festival President Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement that Grande “is an iconic global actress, who transitioned seamlessly to film in her first leading role, proving herself to be a great actress. multi-faceted and undeniable talent. This role will surely be the beginning of many accolades that he will collect during his acting career.”
Ariana Grande stocked up on a pink outfit ‘just in case’ she lands Wicked: ‘Which underwear would Glinda wear?’ (Exclusive)
Among the awardees at this year’s gala ceremony at the Palm Springs Convention Center were Angelina Jolie for MariaNicole Kidman for GirlTimothée Chalamet for Complete unknownColman Domingo for Sing SingAdrien Brody for Brutalist and castings of Emilia Perez and Conclave.
Wicked: Part One is in theaters now.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education