Words by Ariana Grande’s four-octave range and run of record-breaking singles have made her one of the defining pop stars of her generation. In recent years she has added beauty mogul and Oscar-nominated actress to her résumé.
Early life
Ariana Grande-Butera was born on June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida. She performed in children’s theater as a girl and, at 15, landed a role in the Broadway musical “13” (2008), earning a National Youth Theatre Association award.
Nickelodeon
Grande became a familiar face to young audiences as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” (2010-2013), and later in the spinoff “Sam & Cat” with Jennette McCurdy. She sang on the show’s soundtracks and began recording her own music.
Pop breakthrough
Her debut album, “Yours Truly” (2013), entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, powered by the single “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller. Critics compared her voice to Mariah Carey’s.
“My Everything” (2014) brought the hits “Problem,” “Break Free” and “Bang Bang” with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. “Dangerous Woman” (2016) followed with its title track and “Into You.”
Manchester
In May 2017, a terrorist bombing outside Grande’s concert at Manchester Arena in England killed 22 people. Grande returned weeks later to organize the One Love Manchester benefit concert, which raised millions of dollars for victims and their families. The city later made her an honorary citizen.
Record-breaking years
“Sweetener” (2018) won her first Grammy, for best pop vocal album. Months later, “Thank U, Next” (2019) arrived with the title track and “7 Rings,” both of which debuted at No. 1. That year she became the first artist since the Beatles to hold the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 at once.
“Positions” (2020) added more No. 1s, and her duet with Lady Gaga, “Rain on Me,” won a Grammy. “Eternal Sunshine” (2024) produced the chart-topper “We Can’t Be Friends” and “Yes, And?”
Wicked
Grande had dreamed of playing Glinda since childhood. She won the role in Jon M. Chu’s two-part film adaptation of “Wicked,” opposite Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The first film, released in November 2024, became the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation and earned Grande an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. The second part, “Wicked: For Good,” followed in 2025.
Business
Grande launched her cosmetics line, r.e.m. beauty, in 2021, building on a successful fragrance business that has generated more than $1 billion in retail sales over the years. She also partnered with brands including Reebok and Givenchy.
Advocacy
Grande has been open about anxiety and post-traumatic stress after Manchester and has encouraged fans to seek mental health care, at one point partnering with the BetterHelp therapy platform to offer free sessions. She has also spoken up for LGBTQ+ rights and gun safety, joining the 2018 March for Our Lives.
Personal life
Grande has generally kept her private life out of interviews, though her songs often reflect on relationships and loss, including the death of her former boyfriend Mac Miller in 2018.
The ponytail and the look
Grande’s signature high ponytail, oversized sweaters and thigh-high boots became one of the most imitated looks in pop, a recognizable brand in itself. She has joked about the ponytail in interviews, explaining that it began partly as a practical choice after years of damaging her hair with dye for her Nickelodeon role. Her r.e.m. beauty line draws on that playful, retro-futurist aesthetic, and her shifting styles have often previewed the mood of each new album.
Legacy
With multiple Grammys, dozens of hit singles and a career that now spans Broadway, television, music and film, Grande has shown remarkable range. Her role in “Wicked” brought her journey full circle, back to the musical theater stage where she started.