A conversation turned into a therapy session on The Drew Barrymore Show.
On the Thursday, December 5 episode of the show, singer and Wicked actress Ariana Grande joined the host on the couch, where Grande couldn’t help but express admiration for the Golden Globe-winning actress.
“I don’t know too much about what your relationship has been to this industry this whole time, but I do know what you have shared publicly about it, and I just have to say, it can be ugly sometimes,” Grande said to Barrymore. “Your strength and your heart and who you are and the light that you bring and your ability to dance in the rain and preserve that childlike wonder is such a gift.”
Grande herself has dealt with her fair share of media fodder. At multiple times, the conversation turned emotional, with each of them crying. But the “We Can’t Be Friends” hitmaker continued, sharing how much of an inspiration the E.T. actress has been for her.
“I just wanted to say that because I admire you so much,” Grande said. “Not only because of your brilliant work, but because of the light that you bring and how happy you make people. That’s really the most important thing, and I had to say that.”
This high praise appeared to take Barrymore by surprise. However, she returned the sentiment, saying that she and her two daughters — Olive, 12, and Frankie, 10, both of whom, she shares with ex-husband Will Kopelman — love her.
“I, as a mother, look at you so proud that my daughters and I love you so much,” Barrymore said. “You’re such a good person, and what you’ve done with this film [Wicked] and your life and your work is, you’ve shown [that] no matter what –– because it can be dark and ugly sometimes –– is that you just find that beauty.”
Emotions ran high through the entirety of the show, especially when Barrymore presented Grande with the original wand held by Glinda in the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, which has been locked on display in the Smithsonian Museum.
“How did you even pull this off? Oh my God, did you break in?” Grande asked Barrymore,
The host then explained, “I have to give credit to everyone on this show because, literally, we were so excited about you coming here. We were like, ‘OK, let’s get the wand!’”