In November 2024, a series of TikTok posts alleged that singer and actress Ariana Grande was diagnosed with cancer (with some posts suggesting it was specifically lung cancer) while filming the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked.

Meanwhile, fans have been in a frenzy over rumors that Grande was paid $15 million to star as Glinda the Good Witch in the two-part movie musical, while Erivo, 37, only got $1 million to play Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

Ariana Grande proves herself a 'modern-day Lucille Ball' with 'Popular,' the funniest number in 'Wicked.' The film's creative team explains how it all came together.

In a new Los Angeles Times oral history, Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz explains:

If you can make it through this long video, Ariana and her Victorious co-star Elizabeth Gillies were messing around on YouTube and recorded themselves singing Popular, which would go on to be her most iconic performance as Glinda.

Ariana Grande, who stars as Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” reportedly didn’t want to perform a new version of “Popular” in the musical film. Stephen Schwartz — the composer and lyricist of the original Broadway musical as well as the movie of the same name — recently told the Los Angeles Times that he and his music team considered refreshing the “rhythm” of the number in the spirit of “being open to new things” for the film.

Cynthia Erivo opens up about her bond with co-star Ariana Grande while filming "Wicked," sharing how their early friendship and promise to support each other shaped their on-screen chemistry as Elphaba and Glinda.

"Anytime i feel like they’re making me do something silly in an audition im going to remember they made cynthia erivo sing defying gravity with an actual broom in her hand."

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's version of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked finally becomes a smash, as it debuts at No. 7 on the U.K. singles chart.