Ariana Grande's Brunette Hair Transformation Is a Callback to Her Roots
Ariana Grande is harkening back to a time before she got Glinda-fied.
The 31-year-old, who is preparing to star as the Good Witch in the highly anticipated film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked, returned to her roots (literally) for an emotional new commercial.
The nostalgic Xfinity ad begins with two little girls meant to be young Ariana and a young version of her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, who plays “Wicked” Witch Elphaba in the film.
Little Ariana attends the Broadway production of Wicked before heading to her laptop to tweet, “Loved seeing Wicked again… amazing production! Made me realize again how badly I want 2 play Glinda at some point in my life! #DreamRole.”
In the clip, the “One Less Problem” singer is sporting her formerly brunette hair, showcasing the time jump back to 2011 when she actually tweeted that very message.
The commercial then cuts to the film’s director, Jon M. Chu sharing with both Ariana and Cynthia that they received the coveted roles as they separately burst into tears.
The two women then come together with Ariana in her current blonde locks as they grasp hands and run down the yellow brick road together along with their childhood selves.
“This whole commercial is about colliding destinies,” director Alice Brooks shared in a behind-the-scenes video, “And Ari and Cynthia growing up and their destiny’s to be Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked.”
Ariana first went platinum blonde in 2022 after being cast as Glinda. She opened up about her journey to the finished look this past September.
“My pop persona is such a characterized version on its own,” she told Vogue at the time. “Beauty really helped me deconstruct that person and find Glinda. Even though I was wearing wigs, I needed to be blonde, too.”
She also dyed her eyebrows as a part of the process, saying there is a “softness that Glinda has with the lighter brows. It didn't make any sense when I had my dark brows.”
Wicked hits theaters Nov. 22.
For more shocking hair transformations, read on.
The model debuted lighter locks in September 2024, a month after giving birth to her and Justin Bieber's first baby, son Jack Blues Bieber.
The Emily in Paris star debuted her dramatic transformation at the world premiere of her new horror movie, MAXXXINE, in June 2024.
"Changing my hair always brings out different sides of my personality and I love playing around," Lily told Vogue. "This cut and color feels bolder and yet somehow lighter. And completely more me—right now."
While attending Chanel's Tribeca Film Festival Artists dinner in June 2024, Katie debuted a subtle, yet striking transformation of rich caramel balayage highlights that were blended throughout her brunette tresses.
The Kardashians star debuted a platinum blonde look and a bob haircut after rocking waist-length strands for quite some time.
"Did someone say they missed king kylie," Kylie teased in the caption of her June 8 Instagram post, to which her sister Khloe Kardashian cheekily replied, "I did! I did!!!!!!"
The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during 2024 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.
The Heads of State star debuted a drastic haircut—a shoulder-grazing bob—while attending a Bulgari event in Rome i May 2024.
In May 2024, the actress chopped her hair into a bob that many fans on social media said reminded them of one of the looks she sported as Mary Camden on the '90s series 7th Heaven.
The Transformers actress returned to her dark brown tresses and debuted a sassy bob in May 2024, a month after she dyed her hair blue to enter what she dubbed her "Jedi era."
At age 17, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith debuted a new lob hairstyle overnight during 2024 Kentucky Derby weekend, which she attended with dad Larry Birkhead.
The singer debuted a lighter, shorter 'do in April 2024.
The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.
Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum 'do in April 2024.
The Fenty Beauty founder debuted a bright blonde hair transformation April 17 while celebrating her latest Fenty x Puma collection in London.
The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.
The Jennifer's Body star traded in her bubblegum pink tresses for a baby blue bob, which she debuted April 2.
Less than a month afer chopping her hair into a long bob, Zendaya debuted a honey blonde transformation at the Challengers premiere March 26.
The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.
The Mean Girls alum swapped out her signature blonde hair for a dark brunette transformation on March 18.
The Selling Sunset star looked completely unrecognizable after debuting a dramatic blonde transformation March 16.
The Fashion Police alum ditched her signature purple hair after six years, tinting it an icy silver in March 2024.
The Dune actress debuted a shoulder-grazing bob at Essence's Black Women in Hollywood Awards March 7.
The Anyone But You star made a showstopping appearance at Miu Miu's fall/winter 2024-2025 show during Paris Fashion Week. For the March 5 event, she unveiled a dramatic long bob haircut.
To prepare for her upcoming role as Jean Seberg, the 29-year-old debuted a bleached blonde pixie cut.
The Princess Diaries alum unveiled fringe bangs at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
The star debuted a bangin' new style at the premiere of her friend Nicola Peltz Beckham's film Lola in February 2024.
The "On the Floor" singer made a dramatic hair change, as she debuted a chin-grazing bob cut at Schiaparelli's haute couture spring/summer 2024 show on Jan. 22.
In January 2024, a month after her prison release, the now-influencer shared a pic of herself sporting a shorter 'do.
Kylie Jenner traded in her dark locks for a pink 'do in January 2024.
In January 2024, the Dancing With the Stars personality shared a video of herself cutting her own hair. "Out with the old energy," she wrote, "and in with the new."
The Underworld actress took the plunge and went full blonde, while also debuting a short bob haircut.
