Ariana Grande brought her signature charm and grace to the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, where she was nominated for her role as Glinda in Wicked. But the night wasn’t without its viral moments, thanks to an eyebrow-raising red-carpet interview.
While Ariana gushed about her nomination, she shared that her mother, Joan Grande, was the first to call her with the exciting news. The interviewer, perhaps caught up in the family love fest, asked if Ariana’s beloved grandmother, Nonna, was still alive—a question that sent the internet into a frenzy.
“Yes, my Nonna is 99 years old,” Ariana confirmed with her signature poise. She also mentioned that her acting coach, Nancy Banks, and her Wicked co-star Cynthia had been her next calls after Joan.
Fans didn’t take kindly to the oddly phrased question, jumping to Nonna’s defense online. One outraged viewer exclaimed, “WHY WOULD THE INTERVIEWER ASK IF SHE’S STILL ALIVE?” Another joked, “What was the plan if Ariana said NO?” Despite the backlash, some fans acknowledged the interviewer’s intent but felt the execution lacked tact.
The incident came days after Ariana accepted the Rising Star award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Dressed in a show-stopping metallic gown, she delivered a heartfelt yet hilariously self-aware speech.
“Thank you so much,” Ariana began, before joking, “I’ve been performing since I was a child, so I never thought at the age of 31 I’d be hearing the words ‘rising star’ again. I thought by now I’d be hearing ‘slightly withering star’ or ‘drooping star.’” She added with a cheeky grin, “Shoutout to my two friends: Botox and Juvederm.”
The room erupted in laughter, proving that Ariana’s comedic timing is just as sharp as her vocal range.
Despite the awkward red-carpet moment, Ariana’s Golden Globes appearance reaffirmed her status as a pop culture icon—and reminded everyone why Nonna will always have a special place in her fans’ hearts.
