Ariana Grande Joins Hairspray Live! as Penny Pingleton

Hairspray Live! has cast a “Dangerous Woman” in a rather quirky role.

Ariana Grande is joining NBC’s live musical event as Penny Pingleton, best friend to hair-hopping ’60s heroine Tracy Turnblad.

The Nickelodeon veteran announced the news on Twitter Thursday, and NBC confirmed the coasting with a thrilled tweet shortly thereafter on Hairspray Live!‘s official account shortly after.

Grande, 23, joins a star-studded cast, including Maddie Baillio as Tracy, Harvey Fierstein as brassy mama Edna Turnblad, Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad, Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle, Kristin Chenoweth as Velma von Tussle and Derek Hough TV host Corny Collins.

And while the cast is fairly well in order at this point, three key parts remain unannounced: teen heartthrob Link Larkin, queen bee Amber von Tussle and Motormouth Maybelle’s son with moves, Seaweed.

Hairspray Live! airs Dec. 7 on NBC.

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