Just because artists start out in one lane does not mean they are stuck there forever. Sure, some things become iconic—like Taylor Swift’s bold red lipstick or Ariana Grande’s signature sleek, high ponytail. But with Grande aiming for grandeur by diving into the magical world of Wicked, she had to trade in her old look, including that beloved brunette mane that fans adored. Although Grande is all open-arms about this new phase of her life, complete with the hair overhaul, her fans are all left yearning for her old look, caught in a whirlwind of nostalgia and frustration.

In a recent Vogue interview about Wicked on Zoom, Ariana Grande called her switch from brunette to blonde, the first step in shedding her pop persona to really embrace Glinda. While she had been working with wigs as well, going blonde was a must, eyebrows included to break down the “characterized version” of the pop star. She figured her dark brows would not sit with Glinda’s lighter look. Hence, she is all in on this transformation, pulling out all the stops to bring Glinda to life, and not just for the kicks.

Ariana Grande also revealed that she is eager to fully embody Glinda, diving deep into her character’s DNA and mindset until it feels like a natural part of her. Plus, with her newfound love for all things pink that Glinda vibes with, she is ready to weave it all together in a special way. But if she asks her fans, they will still be rooting for the old Grande, as her transformation has them nostalgic and even critical to some extent for doing away with her classic version.

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While fans usually roll their eyes at music artists dropping multiple versions of their music, this time it was the Grande 2.0 version that fell absolutely flat for her fans.

Ariana Grande might be basking in the glow of cinematic arrival with Wicked, but her fans are definitely not sold on this new version of her hitting the big screen. Even though she is diving in headfirst to embody the character and do right by her fans, they are waving their old Grande flags and pushing back, leaving her endorsement in the dust with their relentless calls for the classic pop version.

In the world of cinema, shedding old skins for new roles is pretty common and fans know it all too well.

For Ariana Grande, however, transitioning from her music roots means letting go of her signature pop star flair, which feels like flipping the script on what’s natural even if momentarily. Sure, some fans rolled their eyes at the critics, but it has been a while since a fandom this close-knit found itself divided. However, Grande knows how to rise above the noise, and fans might soon see her do it the Wicked way because, like transition, normalcy is not everyone’s jam.

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What do you think of Ariana Grande's fans calling back her brunette era? Let us know in the comments below!