Ariana Grande Joins NBC's Hairspray Live! as Penny Pingleton

Ariana Grande is following in the footsteps of Amanda Bynes... but like, the good Amanda Bynes.

The singer and actress, who made her Broadway debut at the age of 15, has joined the cast of NBC's production of Hairspray Live! as Penny Pingleton, the slightly dorky best friend of central character Tracy Turnblad (newcomer Maddie Baillio).

Grande, who co-starred in Fox's horror-comedy Scream Queens last fall, joins a cast that includes Harvey Fierstein, who won a Tony for his performance as Tracy's mother Edna in the original Broadway production, as well as Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short and Derek Hough.

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Set in Baltimore in 1962, Hairspray centers on Tracy, a teen who wins a role on the local dance program The Corny Collins Show, and who fights for the integration of the previously all-white program.

The live musical production will be telecast Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 8/7c.