The other day, my friend DJ Louie XIV, who hosts a podcast about obsessively ranking pop stars, asked me if this week — the week of Wicked’s release and the attendant glowing praise about Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda — was the “best week to be an Arianator.

The director Jon M. Chu narrates the musical scene, also featuring Cynthia Erivo, where Grande performs the song “Popular.”

Those involved have been doing a ton of press for the film, but why are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande always crying during Wicked events? Ethan Slater thinks he knows. The Wicked cast list is led by Grande and Erivo,