Ethan Slater celebrates Ariana Grande’s first Oscar nomination with rare photo from private celebration

LONDON, ENGLAND: Ariana Grande has achieved a career milestone with her first-ever Academy Award nomination.

Recognized in the Best Supporting Actress category for her enchanting portrayal of Glinda in Jon M Chu’s 'Wicked', Grande joins an illustrious list of nominees, including Monica Barbaro ('A Complete Unknown'), Felicity Jones ('The Brutalist'), Isabella Rossellini ('Conclave'), and Zoe Saldana ('Emilia Perez').

Ariana Grande's private celebration with Ethan Slater

Ariana Grande’s boyfriend and 'Wicked' co-star, Ethan Slater, marked the occasion with a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

The actor, 32, shared a rare photo of Grande gazing out of a London balcony window, surrounded by pink balloons, a nod to Glinda’s signature color.

Clad in an oversized white T-shirt, Grande appeared reflective as she celebrated her achievement.

Ariana Grande’s emotional reaction to her first Oscar nomination

Ariana Grande took to Instagram to express her gratitude and excitement.

Sharing a series of posts, including a childhood photo of herself dressed as Dorothy from 'The Wizard of Oz' and a video of her singing 'Defying Gravity,' Grande poured her heart out.

"Picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition. I cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise," she wrote.

Grande also paid tribute to her younger self, saying, “I’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny Ari, who sat and studied Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just before the big, beautiful bubble entered.”

The singer-actress extended her gratitude to director Jon M Chu as she shared, “Thank you for taking this chance on me and for being the most unbelievably brilliant leader, human being, and most fierce friend."

She also expressed admiration for her co-star Cynthia Erivo, calling her “my sister” and “brilliant beyond measure".

'Wicked' garners 10 Oscar nominations

Ariana Grande’s transformative role as Glinda in 'Wicked' has been a deeply personal and professional journey.

Directed by Jon M Chu, the film showcases the origins of the iconic characters from 'The Wizard of Oz.'

Grande stars alongside Cynthia Erivo, who plays the misunderstood Elphaba, in a story that delves into friendship, identity, and ambition.

The film, a cinematic adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo who plays Elphaba.

The production has received acclaim for its performances, direction, and visuals.

The 2025 Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, at 7.00 pm ET on ABC and Hulu.