Ariana Grande Shares Emotional Message to Cast of NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE!

Yesterday, Ariana Grande, who starred as Penny Lou Pingleton in NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE!, turned to Instagram to share an emotional message with the cast and crew of the musical, along with a photo of herself watching the monitor from behind-the-scenes of the live broadcast.

Shares the pop star, "I don't know where to start. crying so much today. my heart is with hairspray. my heart is in Baltimore with penny lou pingleton and seaweed and tracy and Mr. & Mrs. Turnblad the motormouth kids and the nicest kids. such a bittersweet feeling."

She continues, "i can't put into words how grateful i am not only to have played one of my favorite roles in the world, or to have been lucky enough to sing the songs I grew up singing religiously in the car every day on the way to school, but to have been introduced to the most incredibly beautiful people i've ever met. I feel so blessed and so happy and so sad. But mostly, so so grateful."

NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE aired Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and originated from Los Angeles. The all-star cast featured newcomer Maddie Baillioas Tracy Turnblad, Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad, Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle, Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad, Derek Hough as Corny Collins, Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton, Andrea Martin as Prudy Singleton and Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle. Rosie O'Donnell and Sean Hayes will also made special appearances in the broadcast.

Live television director Alex Rudzinski joined director Kenny Leon ("The Wiz Live!"). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (the upcoming "A Few Good Men Live!") served as executive producers of "Hairspray Live!" Harvey Fierstein provided a new teleplay and Jerry Mitchell ("Kinky Boots," "On Your Feet") served as choreographer for the live production with music and lyrics by Marc Shaimanand Scott Wittman ("Smash" and Broadway's upcoming "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). Derek McLane served as production designer.

Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "Hairspray Live!" takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on "The Corny Collins Show," a local TV program. When, against all odds, Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy's mother is the indomitable Edna Turnblad, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white "Corny Collins Show."