Ariana Grande is officially an Emmy nominee. Following an update from the Television Academy, the singer and actress has been added as one of the principal performers for NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night, making her eligible for the program’s nomination in the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) category at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The credit revision gives Grande her first-ever Emmy nomination, alongside co-star Cynthia Erivo, who is also listed as a principal performer on the special.
Wicked: One Wonderful Night premiered in November 2025 on NBC before becoming available to stream on Peacock. Filmed at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the two-hour concert celebrated Universal’s two-part adaptation of Wicked, bringing together Grande, Erivo and several members of the film’s cast for a live performance event.
Throughout the special, Grande reprised her role as Glinda, performing beloved numbers including “Popular,” while Erivo delivered a soaring rendition of “Defying Gravity.” The program also featured appearances from Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Ethan Slater, and Marissa Bode, alongside previews of songs from the sequel, Wicked: For Good.
The production emerged as one of this year’s strongest contenders, receiving six Emmy nominations in total. Beyond Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), the concert earned recognition for Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming, Outstanding Hairstyling, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction, and Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork.
According to Emmy rules, principal performers in pre-recorded variety specials share eligibility for the overall program nomination. The Television Academy updated Grande’s credit before the July 22 deadline for corrections and omissions, officially placing her among this year’s nominees.
The recognition adds another milestone to Grande’s growing awards résumé during the Wicked era. Her portrayal of Glinda has already brought nominations from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Grammy Awards, while she and Erivo also earned a Grammy win for their performance of “Defying Gravity.”
This year’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take place on September 5–6, with the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards airing live on September 14 on NBC, hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
Leave a Reply