Ariana Grande in Hairspray Live is the Best News We’ve Heard All Week

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NBC announced yesterday, July 7, that singing sensation Ariana Grande would be joining the cast of Hairspray Live. Ariana will be rocking the pigtails as she plays Tracy Turnblad’s (newcomer Maddie Baillio) best friend, Penny Pingleton alongside Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short and Derek Hough.

Ariana took to her Twitter to share her excitement and we are just as excited she will be playing the part. Ariana got her start on Broadway as a cheerleader in the 2008 musical, 13. However, as her star began to rise she left the bright lights of Broadway for Hollywood. Many have waited for her to return to the stage and it is finally here!

Although the show won’t technically be on a New York City Broadway stage, it is the step in the direction we’ve been hoping for. Ariana playing the incorrigible sidekick and not the lead in the show will give her the chance to show off her quirky and comedic side. For those who have seen Hairspray, Penny is one of the funniest characters in the show.

The lone downfall is that Ariana won’t have a solo in the musical. Penny is featured in group numbers, but she does not have a song that is all her own. The creators could go down the same path as Grease Live and create an original song for her to sing, but I kind of hope they don’t. Ariana will shine no matter if she is singing a small part or a big part.

And for all the skeptics who don’t think Ariana has it in her to sing Broadway songs we leave you with a collection of her crooning Broadway tunes, including songs from Wicked and Rent under the jump!

Hairspray Live will go live this December on NBC!

-“Tomorrow” from Annie

-“What it Means to be a Friend” from 13

-“Take Me or Leave Me” from Rent

-“Wizard and I” from Wicked

-singing songs by Jason Robert Brown

-singing songs from Wicked

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