Ariana Grande | Songs, Albums, 7 Rings, & TV Shows | Britannica (original) (raw)

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Ariana Grande-Butera

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Ariana Grande (born June 26, 1993, Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.) is an American singer and actress who burst onto the pop music scene in the early 2010s and became known for her four-octave range. She soon emerged as one of her generation’s biggest hitmakers, with chart-toppers such as “The Way,” “thank u, next,” and “7 Rings.”

Early acting roles

Grande began singing and acting when she was young. In 2008 she won a role in the Broadway play 13, and she soon began appearing in bit parts on television shows. Her big break came in 2010 when she landed a role on the Nickelodeon TV series Victorious. She played Cat Valentine, a teenager attending a performing arts school. After the sitcom was canceled in 2013, she starred in the spin-off show Sam & Cat (2013–14).

Yours Truly

While pursuing her acting career, Grande perfected her singing. In 2011 she released the single “Put Your Hearts Up” (though she later disparaged the song and music video for its teen vibe). Her debut album, Yours Truly, appeared two years later and included the popular single “The Way,” a collaboration with rapper Mac Miller. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and was widely praised. With her R&B-infused pop music and impressive vocal range, Grande earned comparisons to Mariah Carey.

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My Everything

With this success, Grande began to shift her focus from acting to music. Her second album, My Everything, was released in 2014, and it established her as a pop star. The recording, which also debuted at number one, includes collaborations with such singers as The Weeknd, Iggy Azalea, and Childish Gambino (Donald Glover). My Everything, as well as the song “Bang Bang” featuring Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, earned Grande her first Grammy Award nominations.

Dangerous Woman, 2017 Manchester concert, and Sweetener

Ariana Grande, 2016Showcasing a four-octave range, Ariana Grande emerged in the 2010s as one of pop music's biggest hitmakers.

For Dangerous Woman (2016), Grande once again worked with well-known artists, such as Lil’ Wayne and Minaj. In May 2017, during her tour in support of the album, a suicide bomber killed more than 20 people at an arena after a concert in Manchester, England. Grande subsequently organized a benefit concert to raise funds for those affected. Stars participating in the event included Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and Miley Cyrus. In 2018 Grande released a four-part documentary series on YouTube called Dangerous Woman Diaries, which included behind-the-scenes footage of the tour as well as clips from the making of her next album, Sweetener (2018).

Like two of Grande’s three previous albums, Sweetener reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart (Dangerous Woman peaked at number two). Its memorable tracks include the songs “God Is a Woman,” “No Tears Left to Cry,” and “The Light Is Coming,” the latter of which features Minaj. Sweetener received widespread acclaim and won the Grammy for best pop vocal album.

thank u, next and Positions

In 2019 Grande released thank u, next. The chart-topping title track, as well as such songs as “Ghostin” and “7 Rings,” offered glimpses into her personal life. Her sixth studio album, Positions, appeared in 2020 and garnered two Grammy nominations. During this time, Grande also sang on other artists’ tracks, and her collaboration with Lady Gaga on “Rain on Me” (2020) resulted in her second Grammy Award, for best pop duo/group performance.

Return to acting and eternal sunshine

Grande’s acting took a backseat as her music career took off, but she had occasional roles such as in the TV series Scream Queens (2015) and a televised live production of the musical Hairspray (2016), in which she played the part of Penny Pingleton. In 2021, however, she became a coach on the televised singing competition The Voice. That same year she acted in the film Don’t Look Up, a satiric science-fiction comedy costarring Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, and Jennifer Lawrence. She also was cast as Glinda in the film adaption of the musical Wicked and its sequel, which were scheduled to be released in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

In 2024 Grande released the studio album eternal sunshine, which spawned the number-one singles “yes, and?” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” A concept album addressing her divorce from real-estate broker Dalton Gomez (they married in 2021), it drew praise from critics for its introspective lyrics and for Grande’s impeccable vocal prowess.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by René Ostberg.