Ariana Grande hints at plans to step away after 15 intense years

After more than a decade under constant surveillance, Ariana Grande wonders what life beyond non-stop performance might be like.

As she prepares for a major film release, the pop icon opens up about exhaustion, identity and the cost of being constantly “on.”

His recent reflections suggest a turning point that could reshape his relationship with celebrity.

For the better part of the last 15 years, Grande has been a part of modern pop culture.

From his debut in “Victorious” to global domination and now a high-profile turn in film, his career has unfolded at a relentless pace.

This momentum, however, had consequences that she is now fully confronting.

In a candid interview with Vogue Japan for her March 2026 issue, Grande acknowledged that the idea of ​​taking a step back no longer seems unthinkable.

“I think it would probably be healthy,” she said of the possibility of a break. “I’m not used to taking breaks. But I know I grew a lot taking space in music while filming ‘Wicked’… But yeah, the last few years have been pretty non-stop. And by few, I mean 15.”

His words offered a rare glimpse into the consequences of sustained visibility.

While fans have seen her evolve through albums, tours, and reinventions, Grande has led a life defined by deadlines, expectations, and constant production since her teens.

The upcoming two-part film adaptation of “Wicked” marked more than a professional milestone for Grande. It became an unexpected mirror. To play Glinda, she had to analyze the emotional mechanics of a character who thrives in presentation while suppressing a deeper vulnerability.

Grande described immersing herself in Glinda’s inner world, examining how small, unspoken moments shaped what she calls a “high-achieving, successful human being.”

The phrase resonated because it echoed her own lived experience, shaped by public roles and private tensions. For Grande, the process blurred the line between acting and self-examination. Playing Glinda didn’t just require vocal precision or screen presence; it forced her to consider how often she was expected to project joy, strength, and refinement, regardless of how she felt offstage.

This realization has fueled a broader reevaluation of what she wants for the next phase of her life and career.

After years of prioritizing momentum, Grande says she’s firmly shifted her focus toward balance.

Fame, she suggests, no longer has the same singular appeal as it once did.

“Balance is the goal for the next 15 years,” she explained. “I don’t think they will look like the previous 15 years. I think there will be more balance.”

This statement represents a profound recalibration for an artist whose adult life has been structured around constant productivity.

Tour schedules, album cycles, film shoots and promotional obligations leave little room for calm.

Today, Grande seems to want to redefine success not through production, but through sustainability. His comments hint at a future that values ​​rest, personal growth, and selectivity over relentless visibility.

Rather than disappearing completely, she seems to imagine a life where work would no longer consume every corner of her identity.

One of the most fundamental elements of the “Wicked” experience came from Grande’s bond with co-star Cynthia Erivo. Although they never auditioned together, the two developed a connection that extends far beyond professional collaboration.

Grande explained how they learned to support each other during a production that was as emotionally demanding as it was physically rigorous.

“This is what we committed to doing, this is what we knew it had to be, and I think we’ve done a beautiful job of doing that,” she said.

Reflecting further on their partnership, she added: “We have very different processes, and we are very different as people. Yet we took the time to learn from each other, to care for each other through this process…I think it was really meant to be.”

She later described the experience as “the most rewarding job” of her life, emphasizing how rare true connection can be in a performance-based industry. This sense of brotherhood reminded her that meaningful collaboration, rather than constant exposure, may be what sustains her in the future.