Ariana Grande Fangirls Over Leighton Meester

Ariana Grande has been changed for good, thanks to Leighton Meester.

While the Wicked: For Good actress walked the red carpet at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards Jan. 4, her path crossed with that of the Gossip Girl alum and her husband Adam Brody, leading to an absolutely thrillifying encounter.

“I love you so much,” Ariana told Leighton at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., in E! News’ exclusive video. “Wow, wow, wow.”

The sweet exchange wasn’t the only highlight of the night for the “No Tears Left to Cry” singer. Her role in the movie musical also earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the ceremony—hosted by Chelsea Handler and airing on E! and USA Network—and while her time as Glinda the Good is drawing to a close, she explained that she’s at peace with saying goodbye to the character.

“It feels actually really beautiful,” she told E! News’ Justin Sylvester moments before the show. “I think we’re really proud of what we’ve done, and it was an amazing chapter, and now we’ve given it to the world and get to let them have it and enjoy it. It feels peaceful.”