The ‘Wicked’ star hints at a surprise return to pop music while celebrating her Oscar nomination.
Ariana Grande, the multi-talented singer and actress, left fans buzzing with excitement at the 97th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) after teasing the possibility of new music. Despite her recent declaration to focus on acting, Grande hinted that her pop music career might not be on pause for long.
Dressed in a stunning pink gown adorned with thousands of crystals, the Wicked star walked the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where she is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Glinda. When asked about the deluxe edition of her 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine, Grande playfully hinted that new music could be on the way.
“The next step is… It means it must come out,” she told Variety, sparking immediate speculation among fans. However, Grande remained coy about the details, joking that her memory had been erased by the fictional Brighter Days Memory Erasure Clinic from the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
“They’re foggy, because at the Brighter Days Clinic, they do the Memory Erasure,” she teased. “I’ll have to go back to the clinic and see if they can restore my memory.”
When pressed about a potential release date, Grande cleverly avoided using the word “soon,” a term her fans know all too well. “So you have to learn the language of my fans because soon means 10 days or less. I’m not allowed to use that word at this moment,” she said with a smile.
Instead, she left fans with a tantalizing clue: “Just keep your eyes peeled… That’s all I’m saying.”
A Return to Her Roots
Grande’s comments come just months after she revealed her desire to shift her focus from pop music to musical theater. During an appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast in November 2024, she shared how her role in Wicked reignited her passion for acting.
“It is my heart,” she said of theater. “I’m gonna say something so scary — it’s gonna scare the absolute s— out of my fans and everyone, but I love them, and they’ll deal, and we’ll be here forever. I’m always going to make music, I’m always going to go on stage, I’m always going to do pop stuff, I pinky promise. But I don’t think doing it at the rate I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years.”
For Grande, who began her career in Broadway’s 13: The Musical as a child, this shift feels like a homecoming.
“Reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater, and who loves comedy, and it heals me to do that — finding roles to use these parts of myself and put them in little homes and characters and bits and voices and songs,” she shared emotionally.
A Balancing Act
While Grande’s heart may belong to theater, her love for music remains undeniable. Her 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine, was a critical and commercial success, blending introspective lyrics with her signature pop sound. The deluxe edition, which she hinted at during the Oscars, is expected to include unreleased tracks and remixes that fans have been eagerly awaiting.
Grande’s ability to balance her passions for acting and music has always been a hallmark of her career. Whether she’s belting out high notes as Glinda in Wicked or topping the charts with hits like “Thank U, Next,” Grande continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Fan Reactions
Fans took to social media to express their excitement and curiosity about Grande’s cryptic hints.
- @ArianaDaily: “Ariana teasing new music while nominated for an Oscar? She really can do it all. We’re not ready!”
- @GlindaStan: “I need that deluxe edition of Eternal Sunshine ASAP. Ariana, please don’t make us wait too long!”
- @PopCultureFan: “The way she casually drops hints like ‘keep your eyes peeled’ is so iconic. Queen of keeping us on our toes.”
What’s Next for Ariana Grande?
As fans eagerly await more details about the deluxe edition of Eternal Sunshine, Grande’s Oscar nomination for Wicked marks another milestone in her already impressive career. Whether she’s on stage, in the studio, or on the silver screen, one thing is certain: Ariana Grande is here to stay.
So, as she said, “keep your eyes peeled” — because with Ariana, there’s always something magical on the horizon.
What do you think about Ariana Grande’s potential return to music? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
