Ariana Grande

Grande began her artistic journey in musical theatre, landing her first major role as Charlotte in the Broadway production 13 (2008). Her breakout moment came when she starred as the sweet and quirky Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon series Victorious (2010–2013), a role she reprised in the spin-off Sam & Cat (2013–2014). While acting brought her fame, Grande always had her sights set on music, once declaring during early career meetings, “I want to make an R&B album,” despite industry skepticism due to her age.

Her musical debut came with Yours Truly (2013), a blend of retro-pop and R&B, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. She followed with My Everything (2014) and Dangerous Woman (2016), albums that showcased her expanding sound by incorporating pop, R&B, and EDM elements. These releases spawned global hits like “Problem,” “Bang Bang,” “One Last Time,” and “Into You,” propelling her to international superstardom.

In 2018 and 2019, Grande released Sweetener and Thank U, Next, two emotionally charged and trap-influenced albums shaped by personal trials. Sweetener earned her first Grammy Award, while Thank U, Next made history with back-to-back number-one hits and saw her become the first solo artist to occupy the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously.

Her sixth studio album, Positions (2020), further cemented her chart dominance, with the title track debuting at number one. Collaborations like “Rain on Me” with Lady Gaga and “Stuck with U” with Justin Bieber helped her break multiple Billboard records, including most number-one duets in U.S. history. After a brief hiatus, she returned with Eternal Sunshine (2024), a critically praised album that produced the chart-topping singles “Yes, And?” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).”

Outside of music, Grande has built a reputable acting career, with notable roles in Don’t Look Up (2021) and Wicked (2024), where her performance as Glinda earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

With over 90 million records sold, Grande is among the best-selling artists of all time. Her accolades include two Grammy Awards, a Brit Award, ten MTV Video Music Awards, and a record-setting 39 Guinness World Records. Billboard named her the most successful female artist to emerge in the 2010s, and she was ranked the ninth-greatest pop star of the 21st century.

Beyond her artistry, Grande is known for her philanthropic efforts and advocacy in support of mental health, LGBTQ rights, racial and gender equality, and animal welfare. She launched her beauty brand, R.E.M. Beauty, in 2021, and her fragrance line has generated over $1 billion in global sales. With a massive online following, she ranks as the sixth-most-followed person on Instagram.

Ariana Grande continues to redefine pop stardom through her powerful voice, genre-spanning music, and cultural impact.