Ariana Grande

About Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande started as a Nickelodeon actor on shows like Victorious before pivoting to music in 2013. The transition could have gone badly, but her first album Yours Truly debuted at number one, mostly because she had an actual four-octave vocal range instead of the usual Disney Channel skill set. The Mariah Carey comparisons were immediate and not entirely off base.

She found her lane pretty quickly. My Everything in 2014 had "Problem" and "Break Free," songs that worked in clubs without trying too hard. But Dangerous Woman in 2016 was where things clicked. The title track showed she could do sultry without being corny about it, and "Into You" became one of those pop songs that still sounds good years later. "Side to Side" with Nicki Minaj was everywhere, even if the bicycle euphemism was a bit much.

Then 2018 happened. Sweetener came out in August with Pharrell's fingerprints all over it, including "God Is a Woman," which had a video that launched a thousand think pieces. The album was fine, experimental in places, but then the Manchester Arena bombing, Mac Miller's death, and a very public breakup with Pete Davidson all happened in close succession.

Instead of taking time off, she made thank u, next in two weeks. The album dropped in February 2019 and it's probably her best work. The title track turned personal disasters into a gracious kiss-off that named names without being mean. "break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored" was messier and more fun. "7 rings" borrowed from The Sound of Music and became a retail therapy anthem. The album felt like watching someone process everything in real time.

Positions in 2020 was quieter, more R&B-leaning, recorded during lockdown. It had moments but felt like she was trying to avoid another emotional bloodletting. She got married to Dalton Gomez, seemed to step back from the spotlight a bit. Then that marriage ended, she started dating her Wicked costar Ethan Slater amid some tabloid mess, and eternal sunshine came out in 2024. The album dealt with the divorce but in a more mature, less quotable way than thank u, next.

Throughout everything, her voice has been the constant. She can do the whistle tones, the runs, the breathy stuff, whatever a song needs. She's collaborated with everyone from The Weeknd to Lady Gaga. She's performed at benefit concerts and on SNL. She still acts occasionally, with the Wicked movie musical coming out soon.

At this point she's been famous for over a decade, survived personal tragedies that would derail most people, and made pop music that actually sounds like her. The early Mariah comparisons don't really apply anymore. She's just Ariana Grande now.

Her crowds are invested and singing every word back to her. There's genuine affection in the room. She moves around a lot, seems comfortable on stage, takes requests sometimes. Expect screaming at the opening notes of anything off thank u, next. The energy peaks during her biggest hits but doesn't really drop.

Known for thank u, next, break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored, god is a woman, into you, side to side

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