‘SNL’: Ariana Grande Imitates Britney Spears, Celion Dion, Miley Cyrus and Sings With Bowen Yang as Glinda
During her Saturday night hosting appearance at Studio 8H, Ariana Grande performed some accurate parodies of Britney Spears, Celion Dion, and other celebrities.
In her opening monologue, the singer, who plays Glinda in November’s much awaited “Wicked,” expressed her delight about going back to the renowned studio for the show’s 50th season.
“I’m so grateful,” Grande stated. “I’m thrilled to be hosting again. It’s been an absolutely incredible year. In the film “Wicked,” I had the opportunity to play Glinda. I’m a huge theatre enthusiast, so it’s fantastic. And being Glinda or Elphaba is the dream of every theatre youngster. Losing their virginity is, in fact, every theatre kid’s dream. Naturally, though, their second dream is to be in “Wicked.”
The pop artist remarked, “I guess it’s the second time around. The last time I hosted was in 2016, right on the verge of electing our first female president.”
Grande, who is renowned for her extraordinary vocal range, said, “I just want to make one thing clear; I am just hosting,” in an attempt to mock her singing gravity. I will not make this about myself. I’m going to keep things low key, enjoy myself, and take it easy.
From offstage, Grande was handed a microphone. “Oh, what’s this?” Then she launched into song, saying, “I’m not going to sing my favorite notes…I’m not going to do my impressions…” Then the two-time Grammy winner flexed her vocal range doing impressions of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Gwen Stefani, with a spot-on take of Stefani’s singing No Doubt’s 1995 hit, “Don’t Speak. “I promised I won’t do a lift,” said Grande, as she was hoisted into the air and joined by a glamorous chorus line clad in suits.
Bowen Yang wore the iconic Glinda costume from “Wizard of Oz” to accompany Grande onstage. Didn’t someone tell you, Bowen? The “Wicked” sketch was cut.
Yang answered, “Oh, that’s all right.” “In any case, I didn’t really want to do it.” Grande responded with a song. She yanked the cap of Yang’s pink Glinda wand and remarked, “Great, and this isn’t a wand, it’s a flask.”
