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Ariana Grande’s going to have to ditch that ponytail for some pigtails — she’s joining the cast of NBC’s Hairspray Live! The pop star and former Broadway performer announced the news on Twitter (“I AM NOWWW A CHECKERBOARD CHICK”) and added, “Penny has been a dream role since Hairspray opened on Broadway.” Grande is set to play Penny Pingelton, Tracy Turnblad’s (Maddie Baillio) sidekick in the televised live adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical — which is itself an adaptation of John Waters’s cult-classic film. Great White Way superstars Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, and fellow tiny person with a ridiculous range Kristin Chenoweth fill out the cast. Hairspray goes live December 7, 2016.
