10 Times Ariana Grande Gushed About 'Sister,' 'Brilliant Human Being' — and Birthday Girl — Cynthia Erivo

Ariana Grande has been holding lots of space for her 'Wicked' costar since the two were announced as the film adaptation's Glinda and Elphaba in 2021

Ariana Grande thinks the world of her Wicked costar — and birthday girl! — Cynthia Erivo.

Since the news broke that the wickedly talented duo would be stepping into the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the film adaptation of the beloved musical, the two have shared lots about how much the roles and their subsequent friendship have changed them "For Good."

In honor of Erivo's 38th birthday on Jan. 8, here's a look back at some of the sweetest things the "We Can't Be Friends" singer has said about her costar and "sister."

Friendship Beginnings

As the news of Grande and Erivo's casting was made public to the world, The Color Purple actress shared a carousel of images that included a bouquet of pink and green florals along with a heartfelt message.

"Dear Cynthia, honored doesn't even begin to cover it. I cannot wait to hug you. See you in Oz," the note from Grande read. "All my love, Ari."

You've Got a Friend in Me

"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," the "Positions" singer told The New York Times of the duo's relationship. "I’m really proud of us for how genuinely we took care of each other throughout this whole time."

Standing Together

“We’re very different, but when we’re doing something like this together, her needs become my needs,” Grande told Variety of why the two looked over their individual Wicked contracts together.

“And her needs become mine,” Erivo added.

Gift of a Friend

"Cynthia is just an absolute brilliant gift of a human being," Grande told Paul Mescal during their sit down for Variety's Actors on Actors.

Chosen Family

"She is really truly my sister. We really found in each other things we needed," Grande told Variety at the 2024 Met Gala.

Sharing the Love

"I hope we learned a lot from each other, but I learned so much as a person from her," Grande said during a two-part conversation on the Podcrushed podcast of Erivo. "And she loves hard. She is a Capricorn, and she loves hard and honestly and right."

"Hold Space"

Elsewhere in the interview, Grande said she "feels so grateful to have" made Wicked with Erivo and "to work with someone who is just absolutely in their own league of talent."

"There's no one like her," she added. "And to just feel like we somehow speak the same language and somehow we're destined to do this together, and to feel safe every single day together and hold space."

Destined to Work Together

"To have the love that we have and trust that we have and deep love that we have for each other ... I think it all kind of happened the way it did because of that, and because we were supposed to be in each other's lives. I really do," she continued to share with hosts Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari . "I love her so much."

Pink Goes Good with Green

“Her eyes, her hands, it’s otherworldly," the singer told Variety of Erivo and how she "humanizes [Elphaba] in such an extraordinary way and brings her to life."

The "7 Rings" singer said she “will never forget a minute of filming with" Erivo.

Together for Awards Season

"We were just crying together and screaming, and we sent each other flowers immediately," Grande told PEOPLE of how she reacted when both she and Erivo received Golden Globe nominations for their performances in Wicked.

"I'm just really deeply proud of her and of us together and the work that we've done," she continued. "And to see it be recognized is just so — the weight is more than I could have imagined."

While neither actress took home the award for acting, Wicked did win the 2025 Golden Globe for cinematic and box office achievement.