Jeff Goldblum Reveals How He Got Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo & Scarlett Johansson on New Album

Jeff Goldblum keeps busy. In between a boundless press cycle for Wicked and an anticipated second round ahead of its counterpart, Wicked: For Good, the acclaimed actor found time to record his fourth album — and stop by Billboard News to discuss it.

Titled Still Blooming, the set arrives April 25 on Decca Records (and Verve in the U.S.). Recorded with his longtime band of 30-plus years, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, the album collects jazz standards from Broadway’s golden era and the Great American Songbook — and its superstar features match such stellar curation. 

Scarlett Johansson guests on the aptly titled lead single “The Best Is Yet to Come” while his Wicked pals Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo each contribute a song of their own. When it came to tapping Johansson, Goldblum says they met thanks to working on two Wes Andreson films together — they both voice acted on Isle of Dogs and appeared in Asteroid City. 

“We were at the premiere of [the latter] and on that occasion I got to talking about my musical life,” says Goldblum. “And she said, ‘Well, I’d like to do something.’ And she suggested that song.”

As for Grande and Erivo, Goldblum says, “I just think the world of them.” 

“We were on set and I could’ve been intimidated, but they were so warm,” he says. “Pretty soon I was singing everything from The American Songbook, all of which they knew and joined in.” 

One day, he recalls, he started singing, “I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do).” Grande immediately recognized it, telling Goldblum her grandfather used to sing it to her all the time. And now, her rendition with Goldblum and his band opens Still Blooming.

As for Erivo, he remembers telling the star he would be equally honored if she wanted to sing on the album as well, and together they landed on “We’ll Meet Again.” She came to The Hobby Shop studio in Los Angeles to record her vocals and, as Goldblum says, there were “chills and tears as usual.” 

Goldblum then shared how it felt to have a front row seat watching Grande and Erivo perform at the Oscars — and on the set of Wicked and elsewhere — saying he could cry just thinking about it.

Elsewhere in the conversation, he looked to the past — speaking of his long-lasting love for jazz, even sharing the weirdest place he’s ever hopped on the keys — and the future, sharing how else he hopes to continue blooming for years to come. 

“I’ve always said I’m a late bloomer,” he shares. “I just had kids for the first time in my life, nine years ago. My acting feels like it’s better than ever and I’m getting opportunities to exercise that — and my music.”

Watch the full interview above.