With Wicked: For Good’s release just two weeks away, Ariana Grande has shared her version of an iconic track from the stage musical. Based on the second act of the musical Wicked, the film follows Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba after the latter takes a stand against the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) for his mistreatment of the Animals in Oz.

In Wicked: One Wonderful Night, Erivo, Grande, Goldblum and fellow Wicked: For Good cast members Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode took the stage at the Dolby Theatre to perform tracks from both the first and second installments of the franchise. As a treat for fans, this included a couple of numbers from the upcoming film, including the titular track “For Good.” As such, Grande’s rendition of “Thank Goodness” served as a major tease of what to expect in the movie.

The full song is available on Grande’s YouTube page. Notably, it excludes the plot-focused segments featuring Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), instead focusing on Glinda’s introspective solo verses.

Though it doesn’t reach the campy heights of “Popular,” “Thank Goodness” similarly provides a window into Glinda’s character. Set after she makes the decision not to stand against the Wizard with Elphaba, the song hints at the emotional fallout of Glinda putting on a front as a public figure while her private life is crumbling. Despite saying that she “couldn’t be happier,” Glinda’s true feelings are revealed in other lyrics:

I couldn’t be happier

Simply couldn’t be happier

Well, not “simply”

‘Cause getting your dreams

It’s strange, but it seems

A little, well, complicated

There’s a kind of, a sort of, cost

There’s a couple of things get lost

There are bridges you cross you didn’t know you crossed

Until you’ve crossed

And if that joy, that thrill

Doesn’t thrill like you think it will

The deeper meaning behind the song, which opens the second act of the original musical, serves to set up Glinda’s arc for the remainder of the show and hint that she regrets her treatment of Elphaba. Likewise, it gives insights into how Fiyero feels about his relationships with Glinda and Elphaba.

“Thank Goodness” is not necessarily a showstopper akin to “Defying Gravity,” but it is still a beloved track among Wicked fans. Interestingly, this includes both the original Elphaba, Idina Menzel, and Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth. Last year, the singers revealed this tidbit in a group interview alongside Erivo and Grande, with Menzel quipping, “Don’t tell anybody!”

Though the live performance Grande shared is not indicative of the final version that will appear in the film, it still gives audiences a tease of how she will sound in Wicked: For Good. Unsurprisingly, the pop star delivered an emotional performance fitting of Glinda’s storyline in act two.

Wicked: For Good and its soundtrack release on November 21, 2025. Wicked: One Wonderful Night is available to stream on Peacock.