Ariana Grande has delivered a surprising and emotional update about the future of her music career, revealing that she is preparing to step away from touring and recording following the release of Wicked: For Good and her upcoming Eternal Sunshine tour. Speaking on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the 32-year-old singer reflected on her evolving creative priorities and hinted that fans should cherish her next era — because it may be her last for quite some time.

Grande explained that the pace and structure of her career are about to change dramatically, saying the past decade of nonstop music releases, chart-topping singles, and global tours will not resemble what comes next. “The last 10 or 15 years will look very different from the ones that are coming up,” she said cautiously. While avoiding firm declarations, she admitted that her upcoming 41-show tour feels like a finale of sorts. “I’m very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long, long time,” she told Poehler. “It feels like one last hurrah.”

Ariana Grande performs in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sept. 24, 2017.Getty Images

Ariana Grande announced she is hitting pause on her music during Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast on Nov. 18, 2025.Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Her Eternal Sunshine tour — supporting her 2024 album — will begin in Oakland, California, on June 6, 2026, before concluding at London’s O2 Arena on September 1, marking her first tour since 2019’s Sweetener World Tour. Though she told The New York Times that music would “always be part of my life,” Grande now suggests her focus is shifting in a meaningful and deeply personal direction.

Ariana Grande as Glinda in “Wicked: For Good.”

The “7 rings” singer called her upcoming tour her “last hurrah” before taking a break from music.Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Ariana Grande onstage during the iHeartRadio Wango Tango in Los Angeles, California, on June 2, 2018.Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Ariana Grande performs during the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 26, 2020.AFP via Getty Images

The Grammy-winning artist explained that after years dedicated almost exclusively to pop, she wants to reconnect with other creative passions that defined her childhood, including musical theatre, acting, and comedy. “I spent so much time only doing pop music,” she said, “but I grew up loving musical theater and comedy. So I think the thing that will be best for my soul… is chasing things that feel right in the moment, even if it’s spontaneous or different.”

Grande’s acting career has surged in recent years. She starred as Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo in last year’s blockbuster Wicked adaptation and will reprise the role in Wicked: For Good, releasing this Friday. Promotion for the film has kept her schedule packed — including an alarming incident last week when a fan rushed toward her at a Singapore premiere. Still, Grande continues diving headfirst into new creative ventures.

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Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande during a special screening of “Wicked: For Good” in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 15, 2025.Getty Images for Universal Pictures

She will appear in the upcoming Saturday Night Live Christmas special and has wrapped filming on Ben Stiller’s comedy Focker-In-Law, a follow-up to Meet the Parents. Grande plays Olivia Jones, described as a “ball-busting” fiancée, and spoke fondly about her time working with Robert De Niro. “I spent yesterday doing burpees and high knees with Robert De Niro,” she said with disbelief. “I’m like, ‘What is this movie?’ But I’m having a blast. It’s really special.”

Her acting slate doesn’t stop there — she is also set to star in Season 13 of American Horror Story, scheduled for release next Halloween.

Besides “Wicked: For Good,” Grande has had her hands full working on Ben Stiller’s recently wrapped “Focker-In-Law.”Good Hang with Amy Poehler

The “One Last Time” singer opened up about the upcoming “Meet the Parents” sequel during her “Good Hang” interview.Good Hang with Amy Poehler

While Ariana Grande isn’t disappearing from the spotlight, her announcement signals a profound turning point. After years of being one of pop’s defining voices, she is preparing to explore a new chapter — one driven not by chart pressures or touring cycles, but by passion, curiosity, and the freedom to create on her own terms.

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Sources (as required):
(Good Hang Podcast, The New York Times, Wicked: For Good press events, SNL, American Horror Story, Post inquiries)