In a turn of events that left many people shocked, two power players in the music industry were noticeably absent from the decked-out MTV Video Music Awards this past September 11 in New York. While the spectacular show was going on (and known for its unpredictability), two of its biggest stars—Olivia Rodrigo, up for four awards, and Ariana Grande, who won the coveted Best Cinematography award for her chart-topping video “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”—were nowhere to be found. Hard to believe since all the talk is that Olivia and Ariana are two of the hot leading ladies of the moment. But, maybe unsurprisingly, they have their reasons for skipping a night meant to celebrate their successes.
The young sensation of Gen Z, Olivia Rodrigo, is taking the world by storm and establishing herself as a global superstar. Her recent venture into Europe had everyone talking; elegantly a part of the prestigious Venice Film Festival, she and her beau, Louis Partridge, made not only waves on the red carpet but in the realm of pop culture as well. Known for her heart-tugging yet wildly relatable songs, Rodrigo is prepping for an Asia tour unlike any other. E! News recently got the exclusive scoop that she is focused and determined to make this tour one for the books. After serving audiences in North America a hard-to-follow act during her first-ever tour this summer, Rodrigo is steering her ship Eastward to expand her fanbase even further.
In the meantime, pop diva Ariana Grande has been conjuring something wondrous—her entrance into the world of cinema with the eagerly awaited “Wicked: Part One.” Both Belmont and Broadway fans are abuzz, ready to see her make the leap to the silver screen with this promising in-theater movie that feels close to its source material. In an emotionally fervent series of Instagram stories, Grande declared her full-scale commitment to “Wicked,” vowing to put aside other projects that have been in the works for and “for now, at least till November 2023, put a ‘temporary pin’ in all things not ‘Wicked’ as I work and pray for this show to be all that it can and should be for all of us.”
Ariana Grande (2019) surely had no plans to dazzle and delight at the VMAs much like 2022’s VMA Artist of the Year—when Olivia Rodrigo appeared to pay tribute to her inspirations, including the illustrious Taylor Swift, who happened to win a staggering seven awards that night. Grande and Rodrigo are in the midst of the most enchanted paths from pop music to Hollywood, and though they (somehow) missed the chance to shine right beside Swift on that most memorable 2022 VMA stage, it’s clear to see that there are special moments in store for both of them on the road ahead.
