Ariana Grande Thanks Fans For Their Patience During Music ‘Drought’ While She Made ‘Wicked’

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"You have held my hand and helped mend my heart time and time again over the past ten years," Grande wrote to fans as Wicked finally hit theaters this weekend

Ariana Grande penned a heartfelt message to her fans amid the release of Wicked on Friday, thanking them for growing up with her, and for their patience during the apparent “drought” of new music while she was working on the musical.

“I’m feeling incredibly emotional today (who’s surprised?) and I wanted to just thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Grande wrote on her Instagram Story. “I know I disappeared into this project for a long, long time (I believe you all called it “the drought’!) and I know that was hard for you all. I want to thank you for your fierce protection, your passion, and your ability to see me and love me as I evolve alongside all of you.”

As Grande acknowledged, many of her fans had voiced concern in recent years over her lack of musical output — even as she was in the middle of filming a musical. She even addressed the concern on social media last year with a video of her singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Even with all of her Wicked duties, Grande found time to record and release her seventh album Eternal Sunshine earlier this year. The LP became her fourth consecutive album to top the charts, and it helped Grande earn several Grammy nominations: Best Pop Vocal Album, while the Eternal Sunshine tracks “The Boy is Mine” and “Yes, And?” are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Dance Pop Recording.

Wicked is slated for one of the biggest Box Office openings of the year, and both Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo have been lauded for their performances. The film’s soundtrack released on Friday as well and will likely be a strong contender to top the charts next week.

Grande wrapped her message to fans telling them that she’d love them until she’s “old lady Peaches” referencing her character from Eternal Sunshine.

“Thank you for growing with me. It’s one of the greatest joys and gifts of my life,” Grande said. “I love you. See you at the theater.”

Read Grande’s full note below:

I’m feeling incredibly emotional today (who’s surprised?) and I wanted to just thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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Often when we meet in person, you tell me that you’ve grown up with me or about the impact that my work has had on your life but I feel like I don’t really get the chance to tell you enough about the impact that you’ve had on mine.

It’s the morning of Wicked’s release, and I want to tell you how grateful I am for the many ways in which you’ve held me over the years… you have held my hand and helped mend my heart time and time again over the past ten years and I would never be here without you. I mean that in every way you can interpret it.

Thank you for your patience with me. I know I disappeared into this project for a long, long time (I believe you all called it “the drought”!) and I know that was hard for you all. I want to thank you for your fierce protection, your passion, and your ability to see me and love me as I evolve alongside all of you.

I will never take your love, support or the irrevocable connection that we share for granted. From the days of doing many hour long meet n greets in the garage, when it was just us, til I am old lady Peaches, I will love you this same way. Thank you for growing with me. It’s one of the greatest joys and gifts of my life.