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Ariana Grande Sings "the boy is mine" and Teases Penn Badgley's Video Cameo: Watch

Grande returned to The Tonight Show for the first time since 2021 and busted out the cat ears to deliver her eternal sunshine single.

By Samantha Vincenty

Less than 24 hours before the release of her "the boy is mine" video starring Penn Badgley, Ariana Grande returned to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for her first late night appearance since 2021. The pop star caught Jimmy Fallon up on landing the role of Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movies ("to share it with people and to feel the love that we've received in response has been really overwhelming," she told Jimmy Fallon), recording her eternal sunshine album with Max Martin, and more. Grande also delivered an electric performance of her latest single, bad girl anthem "the boy is mine." 

How to Watch

Watch The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC weeknights at 11:35/10:35c and next day on Peacock

Backed by members of The Roots, Grande donned a little black dress and a black lace mask with cat ears — for us, a callback to her Honeymoon-era cat ears and her Dangerous Woman bunny mask, while teasing her seemingly Catwoman-inspired clip. 

The Catwoman vibes were enhanced by her Tonight Show set, which was decorated like a faux-gritty New York City rooftop. Watch Grande's "the boy is mine" Tonight Show performance above.

RELATED: Watch Ariana Grande, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots' Futuristic "No More Tears Left to Cry"

Ariana Grande performs on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Episode 1984

Ariana Grande on casting Penn Badgley in "the boy is mine" video

"The video stars Penn Badgley, who I've been a fan of my entire life," Grande revealed to Fallon. The reveal cleared up two weeks of speculation over which famous actor's thick black hair that was in the brief teaser clip Grande posted to Instagram on May 27.

"It was just so amazing to work with him," Grande added. "I'm such a fan!" 

When Fallon shared that her eternal sunshine album was "a surprise" to him, since he figured it would come after Wicked, she provided some insight into how it went down. 

"When the strike happened, I went home to see my family, of course, first and foremost. I I went to see Nona and my dad and my family," Grande began. "And after that, I booked a week in the studio, and I asked the brilliant Max Martin if he wanted to come be with me." The Swedish producer and songwriter has helped create hits for Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, and many more. 

"It was just the two of us, and by the end of the week, we had five songs that are on this album," the former The Voice Coach continued. "And he was like, 'Just keep going, and I'll come back in a month.' And it just...came out that way."

"You can't stop, though. It's part of you," Fallon said. "You're such a pro!"

The Christian Breslauer-directed "the boy is mine" video drops on June 7. Watch Grande's full Tonight Show interview below.

Ariana Grande Talks Eternal Sunshine and Wicked, Teases Penn Badgley Music Video Cameo (Extended)

The lyrics to Ariana Grande's "the boy is mine"

Written by Ariana Grande, David Park, Max Martin, and Shintaro Yasuda, and ILYA.

How can it be? You and me
Might be meant to be, can't unsee it
But I don't wanna 'cause no scene
I'm usually so unproblematic
So independent
Tell me why
'Cause the boy is mine, mine

Somethin' about him is made for somebody like me
Baby, come over, come over (oh my)
And God knows I'm tryin', but there's just no use in denying

The boy is mine
I can't wait to try him
Le-let's get intertwined
The stars, they aligned
The boy is mine
Watch me take my time
I can't believe my mind
The boy is divine
Boy is mine

Please know this ain't what I planned for
Probably wouldn't bet a dime or my life on
There's gotta be a reason why
My girls, they always come through in a sticky situation
Say, "It's fine" (it's fine)
Happens all the time

Somethin' about him is made for somebody like me
Baby, come over, come over (oh my)
And God knows I'm tryin', but there's just no use in denying

The boy is mine
I can't wait to try him
Le-let's get intertwined
The stars, they aligned
The boy is mine
Watch me take my time
I can't believe my mind
The boy is divine
Boy is

And I know it's simply meant to be
And I, I take full accountability for all these years
Promise you I'm not usually
Like this, shit, it's like news to me, to me
But I can't ignore my heart, boy (the boy is mine)

I can't wait to try him (oh)
Le-let's get intertwined
The stars, they aligned
The boy is mine
Watch me take my time
I can't believe my mind
The boy is divine
Boy is mine