Pop star Ariana Grande performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her new album and world tour, Dangerous Woman. Grande, who will be seen as Penny Pingleton in the upcoming Hairspray Live, was accompanied by Tony-winning composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown.
Brown first worked with Grande when she was in the original cast of his musical 13 on Broadway. Grande played Charlotte and covered the role of Patrice.
Eaerlier this year, Grande was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Brown wrote the ode to Grande saying, “Never underestimate her. ... That voice—powered by nothing but your remarkable empathy, your ravenous intelligence, your cool discipline and your voracious ambition. They’re going to underestimate you, and you, my beautiful friend, are going to make music.”
On Twitter, Brown had an explanation for the song:
All you need to know about the song @ArianaGrande and I just did on @FallonTonight : https://t.co/SteZMTcFFR
— Jason Robert Brown (@MrJasonRBrown) September 20, 2016
He also confessed his excitement for performing on the late-night show:
Until the minute that started airing, I fully expected to find out I got bumped and someone actually cool had taken the piano part. Wow.
— Jason Robert Brown (@MrJasonRBrown) September 20, 2016
