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Wicked is a musical fundamentally about the evolution of friendship—and no song in the score encompasses that more than “ For Good .” Written by composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, the duet sees Glinda and Elphaba express the profound impact their complicated friendship has had on one another as they part ways forever.

So it’s no wonder the heartfelt farewell is the title of the film adaptation’s sequel, Wicked: For Good , which arrives in theaters November 21. Much like the stage musical, the movie ends with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo ’s emotional rendition of the song, followed by a full ensemble reprise.

But the origin of “For Good” stems from more than just the musical’s lead characters—it’s inspired by a real-life friendship that

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