Ariana Grande Talks Music Leaks, Sad Songs, 'Wicked' Stunts & More on 'Hot Ones'!

Ariana Grande is taking on the spicy wings of death!

The eternal sunshine superstar appears on the Season 24 finale episode of Hot Ones with host Sean Evans, out now.

During the Hot Ones challenge, Ariana discussed her seventh studio album, playing the role of Glinda in the upcoming Wicked, working with Max Martin, her philosophy on leaks, the art of a good vocal warmup and more.

On “i wish i hated you” and making sad songs:

“What you hear on the record is what he sent me the first time…it was already really emotional, as soon as I heard it I just started crying and I didn’t know why but it just sounded like the right place to put something like that…”

On stunts in Wicked and working alongside Cynthia Erivo:

“There was lots of bubble signing which was very high up and I wasn’t harnessed. I was just kind of there…but nothing compares to Cynthia…watching Cynthia in her harness with a broom, hat, wig,corset, dress…singing ‘Defying Gravity’ like it’s nothing… we had to do some really insane and beautiful things for this film.”

Favorite memory working with Max Martin, and recording “Break Free”:

“One of my favorite memories was when we were making ‘Break Free.’ I was a lot younger and I did not want to do the intonation on ‘say I don’t want ya’ and he was like, no, it really needs to be like pingy, like annoying. It has to be like, [sings line twice]. And I was like fine, like this [sings line] and that’s what made it to the record…And I’m so grateful for it because I totally get it because it made it so much better. I love that song, I love what that song has done for so many people…”

On leaked music from the artists’ perspective:

“It’s hard, it’s really hard for me because it’s really disheartening and disappointing and it sucks. And I am constantly trying to get to the bottom of like how people get stuff. Whether it’s like videos or pictures or audio, songs and then also like commented on criticized blah blah blah. So it’s conflicting because that is very frustrating and feels very dehumanizing, and then the other side is like…but I’m so grateful to be an artist that people care about and my fans want more of me, so they’re going to these extremes to steal and break in…but yeah I sit somewhere in between being grateful to be here and at all and being like but really, come on, so that’s how I feel.”

Reflecting on early fan hits that she’d wish to retire:

“There was a time when it was hard for me to feel that same gratitude that I do now for certain songs and for the music because I think some of it was like a stressful time and I think becoming a pop star is insane at 19 or 20 and I think that experience was sort of married to some of the songs a little bit. Or like some of the songs that are more emotional that the experience that inspired them can be married to the music to me for a second, but with time and therapy we sort of are able to re-embrace, so I feel just really proud and grateful and happy when i hear them, where as I used to maybe hear it and cry…”