Ariana Grande, the pop princess turned Broadway babe, proved she’s not just hitting high notes but also comedic ones. While snagging the “Rising Star” award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards on Friday (January 3), she roasted herself harder than a caramel macchiato at Starbucks.
The 31-year-old (yes, 31—how dare she age like the rest of us?) was honored for her dazzling turn as Glinda in Wicked. This award is apparently just the warm-up act for her big sweep of the 2025 awards season. Spoiler alert: She’s probably going home with more trophies than your grandma’s bowling league.
But Ariana wasn’t about to accept the “Rising Star” accolade without pointing out the glaring irony:
“I’ve been performing since I was in pigtails and sparkly Skechers,” Ariana quipped, “so I never thought at 31, I’d be hearing ‘Rising Star’ again. Honestly, I was expecting something like ‘Moderately Settling Star’ or maybe ‘Falling Star with a Soft Landing.’”
She didn’t stop there. In true Ariana fashion, she sprinkled in some self-deprecating humor and gave a shoutout to her secret (or not-so-secret) anti-aging weapons:
“I really owe this to my BFFs Botox and Juvederm,” she said with a sly grin. “Without them, I’d be up here accepting the ‘Slightly Wrinkled but Still Trying’ award.”
The audience roared with laughter, proving Ariana’s still got that superstar charm, whether she’s belting out a ballad or delivering one-liners. Botox, Juvederm, and Ariana’s wit? That’s a triple threat if we’ve ever seen one.
Ladies and gentlemen, Ariana Grande: rising, glowing, and clearly still soaring higher than your Wi-Fi signal on a good day.
