Ariana Grande showcased her wicked humor sense of humor while accepting her first major accolade of 2025 at the Palm Springs International Film Festival .
The Wicked star, 31, received the Rising Star Award from her friend and White Lotus Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge during the ceremony on Saturday, January 4. According to People , Grande began her speech with a nod to their bond, calling Coolidge a “comedic genius whose brilliance has inspired my entire life.”
“You don’t know how much it means to me,” Grande said, before reflecting on her long career in the entertainment industry. “I’ve been performing since I was a child, so I never thought at the age of 31 I would be hearing the words ‘rising star’ again, so I wanted to start by thanking my two friends: Botox and Juvederm.”
The crowd erupted in laughter as she quipped, “I thought I’d be hearing ‘slightly withering star’ or ‘drooping star’ by now, so thank you.”
Grande also expressed her appreciation for Wicked director Jon M. Chu , whom she called her “fearless leader,” and co-star Cynthia Erivo , whom she described as her “brilliant sister.” Reflecting on her experience portraying Glinda the Good, Grande said, “Being able to play Glinda the Good was not only the honor of my life but it felt like a homecoming.”