After wrapping up a whirlwind press tour for Wicked: For Good, Ariana Grande has revealed an unexpected setback — she has tested positive for COVID-19.
The pop star shared the news through an Instagram Story on Thursday (Nov. 20), only a day before the highly anticipated Wicked sequel is scheduled to debut in theaters worldwide. Posting a photo from her recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she captioned it, “moments before Covid,” hinting that she may have contracted the virus earlier in the week.
Due to the diagnosis, Grande reportedly had to cancel her planned appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, leaving her co-star Cynthia Erivo to attend alone. She also stepped back from several other Q&A events tied to Wicked: For Good. This isn’t the first time she has fallen ill during the film’s journey — both Grande and Erivo previously tested positive for COVID at different stages of production.
Erivo, too, has been battling her own health challenges. Just days before Grande’s announcement, she shared that she had temporarily lost her voice, forcing her to skip red carpet interviews at the New York City premiere of For Good. Luckily, she was back on vocal rest recovery by Thursday morning, sounding slightly raspy but cheerful during an appearance on Today.
With Grande now sidelined, her recent visit to The Tonight Show stands as the final press event she completed ahead of the global premiere of the Wicked sequel. During the show, she delivered a gorgeous medley of iconic duets — including “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and “Apt.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars — and opened up about her excitement for her upcoming hosting gig on Saturday Night Live later this December, marking her third time on the SNL stage.
“I’m so excited,” she told Fallon, adding that she “almost passed out” upon learning that Cher would be the musical guest. “I had no idea what to do. What an honor.”