Ariana Grande is deep into the busiest holiday season of her career. With Wicked: For Good promotions, a return to Saturday Night Live, and holiday gift-wrapping squeezed in between rehearsals, the pop superstar says she’s grateful — but even she has limits when it comes to some tie-in merchandise.
During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Thursday (Dec. 18), Grande opened up about her Christmas preparations, her favorite family traditions, and a surprising reaction to a Wicked promotional meal she hopes never to see again.
Balancing Christmas gifts with SNL rehearsals
Grande joked that fans expecting perfectly wrapped presents might need to adjust expectations. With rehearsal days stretching long ahead of her fifth SNL hosting gig — this time alongside musical guest Cher — she said gift-wrapping happens in rushed bursts.
“I’ve been managing to wrap some of the gifts in the morning before I leave for SNL,” she explained. “When I get home I’m usually too tired.”
Even her wrapping style fits her comedic self-awareness. “I think it looks… well-intentioned,” she laughed. “I feel guilty about the amount of tape used. It’s hideous, but it’s with love.”
Remembering a holiday tradition with Nonna
Grande also shared her longtime holiday baking ritual with her grandmother, who passed away in June at age 99. Their family would make Italian zeppole doughnuts together, a tradition Grande struggled to imagine adapting on her own.
“My mission this year is to come up with a plant-based zeppole,” she said, before admitting her grandmother “would not like that — maybe I won’t actually.”
A “disturbing” pink-and-green mac and cheese
When Meyers asked about Wicked merchandise, Grande revealed that her mother has gone all-in. “She went a little too hard,” Grande said. “She’d be like, ‘No, I need 30!’”
But not every corporate tie-in impressed her.
“A few items were a little disturbing,” Grande admitted. “Like the pink and green… was it mac and cheese?”
Meyers immediately agreed: “That’s disturbing.”
Grande said the moment made her realize just how large the upcoming Wicked release had become. “That was when I knew, ‘Oh, this is big!’ It’s a little bigger than I thought.”
Meeting Cher for the first time
Grande also shared excitement about finally meeting Cher while filming promos for the weekend’s SNL episode.
“She’s just the one and only,” Grande said. “It was spectacular. She’s brilliant and I’m so excited.”
With a holiday season full of reunions, promotions, and stage appearances, Grande remains candid and playful — even when confronting themed mac and cheese that turns her stomach.
As Wicked continues to expand, fans can expect more surprises, but Grande’s reactions show she’s keeping her humor intact.
