Pop superstar and actress Ariana Grande recently shared candid details about her contemplation of stepping away from the music industry. During an appearance on the "Shut Up Evan" podcast, hosted by Evan Ross Katz, which aired on Friday, October 24, the 32-year-old artist revealed that her role as Glinda in the upcoming film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Wicked" nearly led her to quit music entirely. Grande confessed that her 2020 album, "Positions," was initially intended to be her final musical release before focusing exclusively on her acting career.

Grande articulated her secret intention, stating to Katz, "I didn't think I was gonna make an album ever again. When I left for London, that was kind of my secret, but I didn't think I was going to." However, the experience of portraying Glinda proved to be a profound turning point, fundamentally altering her perspective on creativity. She explained that playing the iconic character "totally rearranged everything about [her] relationship to creating," reigniting her passion and inspiring her to record her critically acclaimed 2024 album, "Eternal Sunshine." This latest album enjoyed significant commercial success, spending three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts.

Reflecting on her renewed inspiration, Grande described feeling "just a genuine spark, like a reconnection and inspiration and something." She mused, "Maybe I missed it. Maybe it's as simple as I missed it. But I do feel like you have to miss things in order to learn to become better for them. I think I learned so much, and then also I genuinely wanted to do it. I just felt like I couldn't not. It was an inspired moment and I had to write an album and I had to do it." This period of introspection and renewed artistic drive ultimately led to her triumphant return to music.

Looking ahead, Ariana Grande is preparing for a limited series of tour dates scheduled for 2026 in support of "Eternal Sunshine." The tour is set to commence on June 6 in Oakland, California, with performances planned for major cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Montreal. The tour will conclude with a series of five shows at London’s O2 Arena in August. This marks a significant return to touring for Grande, whose last full-scale concert series was the "Sweetener World Tour," which wrapped up in December 2019.

Beyond her musical journey, the podcast also delved into other topics, with Grande sharing insights into receiving career advice from music legends Madonna and Beyoncé during her early years. She also discussed her thoughts on "cringe" culture and various other subjects, offering fans a comprehensive look into her experiences and perspectives. The full conversation with Evan Ross Katz is available for viewing via Billboard VIP Pass.