Ariana Grande Changes Name to ‘Ariana Grande-Butera’ After Reconciling With Father
Ariana Grande, globally recognized as a pop sensation and actress, recently made headlines for a personal and significant change—adding her father’s surname, “Butera,” to her name. The move, which will
Ariana Grande, globally recognized as a pop sensation and actress, recently made headlines for a personal and significant change—adding her father’s surname, “Butera,” to her name. The move, which will be first noticed in the credits of her upcoming film Wicked, marks a heartwarming chapter in Ariana’s life, symbolizing the reconciliation with her father after years of estrangement.
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Why “Grande-Butera” Now?
For the credits of Wicked, Ariana chose to go by her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera, a name she lovingly refers to as her “little girl name.” This name holds deep significance for her. At just 10 years old, she attended Wicked on Broadway for the first time under this name, and it marked a formative experience in her life, sparking a passion for musicals and inspiring her future career in entertainment.
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By choosing to reintroduce “Butera” alongside “Grande” for the Wicked credits, Ariana is connecting back to the version of herself who first fell in love with the show. It’s a symbolic act of reclaiming her roots, reflecting both the family she was born into and the woman she has become. In a way, it’s a tribute not only to her father but also to her childhood self and the dreams that were born during that time.
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A Difficult Childhood: The Estrangement from Her Father
Ariana Grande’s relationship with her father, Edward Butera, had been complicated for much of her life. When she was just eight years old, her parents separated, leading to a rift between her and her father that lasted for many years. In past interviews, Ariana spoke openly about the emotional toll this estrangement took on her, even addressing the pain in her music. Her song “Thank U, Next” notably referenced the struggle, with the lyric, “One day I’ll walk down the aisle, holding hands with my mama,” highlighting the absence of her father in key moments of her life.
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For a long time, Ariana kept a distance, maintaining a close bond with her mother, Joan Grande, while grappling with her feelings toward her father. The emotional complexity of their relationship was a recurring theme in her narrative.
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Reconciliation: A New Beginning
However, in recent years, Ariana has worked on repairing her relationship with her father, a process she described as challenging but deeply important. In 2019, during an interview with Vogue, the singer revealed that she had started to mend the fractured bond with Edward Butera, stating, “It’s private, but it took me a lot of time to be okay with it.”
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The reconciliation between father and daughter appears to have reached a place of peace and mutual understanding. Ariana’s decision to embrace her full name, “Grande-Butera,” is a public acknowledgment of this renewed connection, symbolizing a blending of both her parents’ legacies. By including her father’s surname, she not only honors their reconciliation but also embraces her Italian heritage, something that has always been important to her identity.
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Wicked: A New Era for Ariana
The name change will be first spotted in the credits for Wicked, where Ariana takes on the iconic role of Glinda, a dream come true for the singer-actress who has long expressed her love for Broadway. The film, which has been eagerly anticipated by both musical theater fans and Ariana’s followers, marks a major milestone in her acting career.
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The fact that her name change was revealed in such a significant project adds to the emotional weight of the moment. Wicked represents a new era for Ariana, both professionally and personally, as she continues to grow not only as an artist but also as a person healing from her past.
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A Journey of Growth and Healing
Ariana Grande’s decision to add “Butera” to her name is more than a mere formality; it’s a reflection of her journey toward healing and acceptance. After years of struggling with the impact of her father’s absence, Ariana has found peace in reconciliation, a journey that resonates with many who have experienced family estrangement.
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Her upcoming role in Wicked will be a high point in her career, and with her new name, Ariana Grande-Butera, she embarks on this next chapter of her life with both her mother and father symbolically by her side. It’s a powerful reminder that while healing is never linear, it’s always possible to find peace—and that sometimes, the most meaningful transformations happen behind the scenes.
