Why Golden Globes nominee Ariana Grande recently changed her name back to her real one

The 2025 Golden Globes will soon officially kick off in just a matter of days now (5 January), but some followers of the festivities have been left wondering what title pop-star and first-time nominee Ariana Grande will go by if she wins.

After all, the Wicked actress blindsided her fans earlier this year by making an unannounced alteration to her moniker in the credits to the magic musical, which was released back in November.

The former child star is in the running for the 'Best Supporting Actress', having wowed critics in her role as 'Glinda the Good' in the cinematic adaptation of the Broadway hit.

She stars alongside Cynthia Erivo's 'Elphaba', with the events from the film proceeding those featured in Judy Garland's 1939 The Wizard of Oz.

Fans of the star-studded flick - which also stars the likes of Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum - heaped in praise over her unexpectedly 'funny' performance following its release, with many predicting a nomination or two for the star.

"I’m on the 'Ariana Grande for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar' train," one viewer gushed on social media at the time: "She is delightful in Wicked, with razor-sharp timing and presence that adds depth to the mean girl archetype.'

"It’s one of the best comedic musical performances in years (maybe since Catherine Zeta-Jones)."

And another claimed: "Ariana was getting so many giggles from the audience like she’s truly a comedic natural!"

As we say, however, fans of the singer/actress tuning into tonight's awards show have been left wondering what name will be read out by hosts, after she seemed to 'change' her name in the credits of Wicked.

Ariana Grande plays 'Glinda' in the magical musical (Universal)

Despite being born 'Ariana Grande-Butera' - a combination of her mother, Joan Grande's, and father, Edward Butera's names - the much-loved star dropped the latter section of her name as a pre-teen.

So, when she later skyrocketed into the spotlight on Nickelodeon's Victorious in the late 2010s, she simply went by the moniker Ariana Grande.

And in the years that followed, when she went on to become one of America's most successful musicians, selling over 90 million records worldwide, she opted to keep this single last name.

After her latest project landed in cinemas last month, however (22 November), viewers noticed that she'd added 'Butera' to her credit again.

The singer fell out of touch with her dad, Ed Butera, in 2013, following a split from her mum, Joan Grande, when she was just eight.

Speaking to Seventeen Magazine about their estrangement in 2017, she described her connection to her father as complicated.

She said at the time: "It’s private… It took me so long to be OK with it. So much of me comes from my father, and for so long, I didn’t like that about myself."

The actress is up for a Golden Globe (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The 'Side to Side' chart-topper added: "I had to accept that it’s OK not to get along with somebody and still love them."

In the years since her emotional admission, however, it sounds as though the father-daughter duo have been able to repair their relationship.

Ariana invited both of her parents along to the 62nd Grammy Awards back in 2020.

Butera was also present at her wedding to her now-ex-husband, real estate agent Dalton Gomez, in 2021, and, as we say, her latest project of Wicked has seen another tribute to her dad.

At this year's Golden Globes, Grande is up against both Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña for their respective roles in Emilia Pérez, Felicity Jones for The Brutalist, Margaret Qualley for The Substance, and Isabella Rossellini for Conclave.