Ariana Grande didn’t win Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards — but her portrayal of Glinda in ‘Wicked: For Good’ has already become a cultural milestone. This isn’t a loss; it’s proof that her artistry transcends awards, and the film’s legacy is only beginning.
It wasn’t the trophy Ariana Grande craved — but what she delivered was far more valuable than any statuette. At the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, held Sunday, January 4, at California’s Barker Hangar, Grande was honored for her transformative role as Glinda in Wicked: For Good. Yet it was Amy Madigan, not Grande, who took home the Best Supporting Actress award for her work in Weapons.
Grande had been nominated against an elite group including Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another). The competition was fierce, and the stakes were high — especially for a performer whose entire career had been built around vocal power, charisma, and now, deep emotional transformation.
But here’s the truth: this nomination wasn’t just about recognition. It was about validation. Grande had spent months, if not years, preparing to embody Glinda — a character she described as “the Good Witch of the North,” someone she’d long dreamed of playing. “Maybe people underestimate how long we spent finding and disappearing into these women,” she told Variety in January 2025, also referring to Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. “When certain inflections or mannerisms take time to melt away, sometimes people poke fun, but we had a job to do, and we had things to get lost in — because that’s what the piece required.”
Her words weren’t mere fluff. They were the blueprint of a performance that demanded vulnerability, discipline, and emotional honesty. And she gave all of it — even when it meant sacrificing the spotlight.
“Glinda required a lot of vocal work for me. Certain things maybe won’t melt away. Some will, but I’m really grateful for the pieces that will stay with us forever. What a beautiful thing to be left with, and to feel the ghost of every day,” she added. That’s not just acting. That’s legacy-building.
And then there’s the partnership. Grande and Cynthia Erivo, 38, forged something rare — a bond that transcended the screen. “We hear often how female costars — or really, any costars — can sometimes let their egos get in the way until they battle each other, destroying the creative process for everyone involved,” Erivo wrote in her memoir Simply More, published in November 2025. “We were determined to do the opposite. To be the opposite. To build on each other’s strengths, to encourage the other, to see if, like our voices, we could become more than the sum of our parts.”
That synergy wasn’t just backstage chatter — it was visible, tangible, and deeply felt. “Our partnership was important,” Erivo wrote. “We shared a strong synergy, a commitment to authenticity, and that, combined with the natural connection we fostered both on and off set, allowed us to support each other emotionally and professionally.”
They didn’t just play characters. They became sisters — a bond so powerful that after wrapping Wicked, they got matching themed “For Good” tattoos in honor of their onscreen duet. “I think that was one of my most cherished parts of this experience: I felt held and like I had a friend every step of the way,” Grande told The New York Times in 2024. “I’m really proud of us for how genuinely we took care of each other throughout this whole time.”
This isn’t just another Hollywood story. It’s about two women choosing to elevate each other instead of competing. In a world where collaborations are often transactional, theirs was a covenant — one that changed the tone of the entire project.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good also starred Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang. Together, they created something rare — a film that doesn’t just entertain, but transforms its audience. It’s not just about witches. It’s about redemption, friendship, and the quiet courage to be your truest self — even when the world expects you to change.
Grande’s absence from the Best Supporting Actress podium doesn’t diminish her contribution. If anything, it amplifies it. She didn’t need an award to prove her worth. She needed a platform — and she got it. Through her performance, she reminded audiences why storytelling matters. Why art matters. Why collaboration — especially between women — matters.
And while Amy Madigan walked away with the trophy, Grande walked away with something even greater — the enduring legacy of a role that challenged her, changed her, and ultimately defined her. She didn’t just play Glinda. She became her.
She didn’t win tonight — but she won tomorrow. And for fans, that’s enough.
Want more of onlytrustedinfo.com’s fast, definitive entertainment analysis? Subscribe for daily insights that cut through the noise and deliver the truth behind every headline.
