Conan O’Brien’s Cheeky Reaction to Hosting the 2025 Oscars
Ariana Grande’s acting career is soaring to new heights.
After all, it was announced Jan. 23 that she earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Oscars ceremony—to be hosted by Conan O’Brien on Mar. 2 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles—for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked.
The achievement marks the 31-year-old’s first Academy Award nomination, and she was rightfully emotional when reacting to the news.
"Picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition," she wrote in the caption of an Instagram post Jan. 23. "I cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise. i’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' just before the big, beautiful bubble entered."
In the adorable post, a young Ariana was pictured in a Dorothy-inspired checkered dress and headband. And she couldn't help but thank the little girl whose dreams got her to where she is, writing, "I’m so proud of you, tiny."
And she couldn’t express her gratitude for the nod without mentioning her onscreen and IRL BFF Cynthia Erivo—who received a Actress in a Leading Role nod for her role as Elphaba—as well as all the Ozians that made the milestone possible.
"I am so proud of my Elphie, my sister, my dear @cynthiaerivo," Ariana continued. "Your brilliance is never ending and you deserve every flower (tulip) in every garden. I love you unconditionally, always."
But it wasn’t just the film’s stars who received good news during nominations. In fact, Wicked as a whole turned out to be extremely popular at this year’s ceremony, racking up 10 nods, including Best Picture, Costume Design, Sound, and more.
And this wasn’t the first ceremony during the 2025 awards season where the film made its presence known. Indeed, the blockbuster racked up four nominations at the Jan. 5 Golden Globes, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, and ultimately took home the win for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Included in the film’s Globes nominations was yet another nod for Ariana in the Best Supporting Actress category. And while Zoe Saldaña ultimately took home the prize, Ariana’s reaction to the nomination was just as sweet.
"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness," Ariana gushed in a Dec. 9 Instagram Story following the nomination announcement. "I am floored and honored to be recognized by the members of the @goldenglobes, crying (of course). It's impossible to find my words, but I am simply so grateful for this acknowledgement."
And this gratitude runs deep—more than 2 decades deep, to be exact.
“My first time seeing Wicked, I was 10 years old, and I am so lucky,” she told Deadline in an interview published Nov. 22. “I got to see the original Broadway cast. I just remember my life changing and knowing my life in two chapters: before seeing Wicked and after seeing Wicked.”
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Five years later, Ariana’s post-Wicked haze led her straight to her Broadway debut in 13: the musical alongside her future Victorious costar, Liz Gillies. In tackling the coveted role for the film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, she acknowledged that her roots in theater have been preparing her for this moment.
“I mean, I’ve said this, but I feel like this whole experience has been such a homecoming for me,” she told The Hollywood Reporter late last year. “Because again, I started in theater. We started on the stage and, you know, to have gone so many different routes along the way, and to kind of find my way back here. I think it’s been really healing for my soul.”
To learn how more about this year's Oscars snubs and surprises, keep scrolling.
Shanna Besson/Pathé/Netflix
Snub: Selena Gomez
While the Emilia Pérez star has enjoyed positive reception for her work as Jessi Del Monte—including a Golden Globe nomination—the Disney Channel alum did not find herself among the nominees for the Best Supporting Actress.
Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images for Disney
Surprise: Monica Barbaro
One who did find themselves on the coveted list was Monica Barbaro.
And don't get us wrong—Monica's nomination for her work as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown comes as a pleasant surprise after not being nominated for a Golden Globe. Her performance did, however, earn a nod for the 2025 SAG Awards.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Snub: Angelina Jolie
While Maria marked the 49-year-old's first major role since 2021's The Eternals, and despite being nominated for a Golden Globe, Angelina was not nominated for an Oscar.
Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty Images
Surprise: Some of the First-Time Nominees
While it doesn't come as a surprise that they were nominated, you might be surprised to learn that the following Hollywood veterans have not been nominated for an Academy Award before this year.
Among those celebrating their first nominations amid enduring careers include Demi Moore (The Substance), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Brazil's Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here).
Neil Mockford/WireImage
Snub: Jon M. Chu
Despite the box office success and critical acclaim of Wicked, the 45-year-old was not recognized in the Directing category.
Mubi/Metropolitan Filmexport
Surprise: The Substance
While the body horror film—which stars Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley—earning a Best Picture nod doesn't come as an outright surprise given the project's positive reception, it does buck a longtime trend of horror movies being omitted from the top category.
Among the handful of previous films in the genre to have earned a Best Picture nomination are Get Out, SIlence of the Lambs, The Sixth Sense and The Exorcist.
Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Snub: Nicole Kidman
While the Babygirl star—who has been nominated for five Academ Awards throughout her career—earned a nod at the Golden Globes, she was not among the list of nominees for this year's Oscars.
Amazon MGM Studios
Snub: Challengers
While the tennis-centric film—starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor—didn't earn a single Oscars nomination, perhaps the most surprising category in which it did not feature was Music (Original Score).
Afer all, the electronica, bass-heavy background almost became a character itself throughout the film, making it one of the most unique scores of the last year.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
A (Future) Surprise: The TBD Nominees
Eagle-eyed fans tuned into the announcement may have noticed that under certain titles read, "Nominees to be determined."
Accordng to the Academy, producers need to be determined eligible by the Producers Guild of America, meaning in this case the names under certain nominees are still pending.
The announcements, coming in early February, therefore promise to be a surprise for all.
Image courtesy of Roadside Attractions
Snub: Pamela Anderson
While the 57-year-old's performance in The Last Showgirl received critical acclaim and earned her a Golden Globe nomination, Pamela—and the entire film, including fellow cast member Jamie Lee Curtis—were shut out of the Oscar nominations.
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for A.L.C.
Surprise: Mindy Kaling
Yes, indeed, the Mindy Project alum has her hands in Live Action Short Film nominee Anuja after helping produce the project.
The 2025 Academy Awards air Sunday, Mar. 2, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC and Hulu.
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