Ariana Grande Discusses the “Puzzling” Nature of Her Extremely High Speaking Voice

Ariana Grande Addresses Voice Changes

Ariana Grande shared insights into the “puzzling” changes in her speaking voice, which fans noted seemed higher than usual after she starred in the lead role of Wicked.

Techniques for Protecting Her Voice

During her appearance on the Insane Podcast on Monday (February 3), the “Eternal Sun” singer discussed with hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett about the techniques she employs to protect her voice during tours.

Grande explained that she sometimes shifts to a higher register when she needs to speak for extended periods, as she did during the emotional press tour for Wicked, where she and her co-star Cynthia Erivo were often seen in tears.

“What I do is often misunderstood—it’s funny because if you are someone who uses their voice, you get it. If I have a long press day or need to sing, I intentionally adjust (my voice) to sound a bit higher,” she noted.

“I will modify my vocal placement as a kind of reserve. But it’s purely for the sake of vocal health. It can strain your voice a little,” she added.

“This is a normal practice for vocalists. Yet, people often say, ‘This is not her natural voice.’ And I respond, ‘Well, it really is, but it’s a bit higher.’ It’s all natural,” she explained.

The singer and actress acknowledged receiving negative feedback on social media, stating, “It’s amusing because I’ve talked about this multiple times, and people still ask, ‘Where is your real voice?’ And I say, ‘Well, this is it.’”

She previously defended her practice of adjusting her vocal placement and responded to comments on her viral clip I got incentive, stating: “I spoke in a slightly higher placement than usual because I had given many interviews, and I was trying to keep my voice healthy,” adding, “I’ve always done it this way.”

Recently, Grande discussed her vocal training for her “dream” role as Glinda in Wicked during her appearance on Variety’s awards podcast. She revealed details about a new song her character performs in the upcoming sequel, Wicked: Part Two, which is set for release in theaters on November 21.

“Yes, and?” she said, adding that taking on the role of the beloved pink witch came with a deep sense of responsibility. She admitted that she might forever alter her vocals, spending months adapting her voice to sing in a soprano range.

“From the moment it was announced, I knew this role would stay with me forever. It’s an honor, but it comes with a significant weight. I wanted to do it justice. Glinda is not just a character for me—she embodies growth and love, and I wanted to give her everything I had,” she explained.

She also teased fans about the new song for Glinda, which was crafted by the original Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz, who collaborated with her co-star Cynthia Erivo to write the original track for the sequel.

In a four-star review of Wicked, Nick Levin wrote for NME: “The stakes in Wicked are slightly midrange, but that doesn’t detract from the dramatic climax where Elphaba and Glinda journey to Oz to meet the legendary wizard (Jeff Goldblum). He and Yeoh sparkle in their brief musical numbers, but Erivo and Grande are nothing short of extraordinary.”