Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande began her music career at the age of 15 in the 2008 Broadway musical "13." She gained fame for her role as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon television series "Victorious" (2010–2013) and its spin-off "Sam & Cat" (2013–2014). Grande signed with Republic Records in 2011 after label executives discovered her through YouTube videos of her covering songs. Her debut album, "Yours Truly" (2013), featuring 1950s doo-wop-influenced pop and R&B, topped the US Billboard 200. Its lead single, "The Way," reached the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, and Grande's vocal performances drew comparisons to Mariah Carey.


She explored EDM on her second studio album, "My Everything" (2014), achieving global success with singles like "Problem," "Break Free," and "Bang Bang." Grande continued to experiment with pop and R&B in her third studio album, "Dangerous Woman" (2016). It marked the beginning of four consecutive number-one albums in the UK. Personal struggles influenced her fourth and fifth studio albums, "Sweetener" (2018) and "Thank U, Next" (2019). The latter broke records for streaming and earned her the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album.


In 2020, her collaborations "Stuck with U" with Justin Bieber and "Rain on Me" with Lady Gaga set records for most number-one debuts on the Hot 100. Grande's sixth studio album, "Positions" (2020), and its title track debuted at number one in the UK and the US. She continued her success with three more US number-ones, including remixes of the Weeknd's "Save Your Tears" and "Die for You," as well as "Yes, And?", the lead single from her upcoming seventh studio album, "Eternal Sunshine" (2024).


Ariana Grande is recognized as one of the world's best-selling music artists, with over 90 million records sold globally and 100 million certified units (album and songs) in the US alone. All of her studio albums are certified platinum or higher by the RIAA. Grande has broken numerous records on the Billboard charts, and she holds a significant presence in the streaming world. As of 2021, she is one of the most streamed artists of all time, the most streamed female artist ever, and the most streamed female artist of the 2010s on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.


Grande's online presence is also notable; she is the most subscribed female solo artist and the most followed female artist on YouTube and Spotify as of 2020 and 2022. Fourteen of her songs and eight of her music videos have achieved over one billion streams and views on Spotify and Vevo, respectively. She holds the record as the female artist with the most one billion songs on Spotify.


Ariana Grande has received recognition beyond the music industry. She has been included in Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016 and 2019, as well as the Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2019 and 2020. Forbes reported her as the highest-earning female musician of 2020. She received the title of Woman of the Year in 2018, was recognized as the greatest pop star of 2019, and is regarded as the most successful female artist to debut in the 2010s by Billboard. Rolling Stone also ranked her among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023.


Ariana Grande returned to acting with her appearance in the 2021 ensemble satire "Don't Look Up." She also secured a role as Glinda in the film adaptation of "Wicked," which began filming in 2022. In addition to her accomplishments in music and film, Grande has actively engaged with charitable organizations and advocated for various causes, including animal rights, mental health, and gender, racial, and LGBT equality.


Beyond her artistic pursuits, Ariana Grande has made strides in the cosmetics, fragrances, and fashion industries. Her fragrance line, launched in 2015, achieved remarkable success, exceeding $1 billion in sales through 2022. Grande has a significant presence on social media, boasting a large following. In 2019, she became the most followed woman on Instagram. As of 2023, with over 380 million followers, she stands as the sixth-most-followed person globally.


Ariana Grande was born on June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida, to Joan Grande and Edward Butera. Joan Grande, born in Brooklyn, is the CEO of Hose-McCann Communications, a communications and safety equipment manufacturer that has been owned by the Grande family since 1964. Edward Butera is the owner of a graphic design firm in Boca Raton. Ariana Grande is of Italian descent and has expressed her identity as an Italian American with Sicilian and Abruzzese roots. She has an older half-brother named Frankie Grande, who is an entertainer and producer.


The family originally moved from New York to Florida before Ariana's birth. Her parents separated when she was eight or nine years old. Despite the separation, Ariana Grande has maintained a close relationship with her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Grande.


During her childhood, when her parents were season ticket holders for the Florida Panthers, Ariana Grande had some notable experiences at hockey games. On two separate occasions in 1998, she was accidentally hit on each wrist by errant hockey pucks, resulting in minor bruises. The second incident occurred during the Panthers' inaugural regular-season game at the National Car Rental Center on October 9, 1998. Additionally, during the first intermission of that game, Ariana Grande became the first child to ever ride a Zamboni in the new arena. Her parents secured this opportunity by winning a $200 bid at an auction. A photograph of her on the Zamboni was featured in the South Florida SunSentinel the following day.


Furthermore, at the age of 8, Ariana Grande showcased her singing talent by performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Panthers' home game against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 16, 2002.


As a young child, Ariana Grande began her journey in performing arts. She joined the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theater, where she played her first role as the title character in the musical "Annie." Grande also participated in other productions with the theater, including performances in "The Wizard of Oz" and "Beauty and the Beast." Her early exposure to the stage allowed her to showcase her talents and develop a passion for performing.


At the age of eight, Ariana Grande took her talents to a karaoke lounge on a cruise ship, providing an early glimpse into her vocal abilities. She also collaborated with various orchestras, including South Florida's Philharmonic, Florida Sunshine Pops, and Symphonic Orchestras. This experience allowed her to explore different musical genres and enhance her stage presence.


During this period, Ariana Grande attended the Pine Crest School and later North Broward Preparatory, balancing her academic pursuits with her growing interest in the performing arts.


At the age of 13, Ariana Grande began to seriously pursue a career in music while still maintaining her focus on theater. Expressing her passion for music, she revealed her aspiration to record an R&B album during a meeting with her managers when she first arrived in Los Angeles, California. Despite initial skepticism about the marketability of a 14-year-old's R&B album, Grande was determined to pursue her musical dreams.


In 2008, Ariana Grande landed a role as cheerleader Charlotte in the Broadway musical "13." Her commitment to the musical led her to leave North Broward Preparatory School, but she continued her education through enrollment and received study materials to work with tutors. Additionally, Grande showcased her vocal talents by performing at the New York City jazz club Birdland, further establishing herself as a versatile and talented young artist.


In 2009, Ariana Grande secured a role in the Nickelodeon television show "Victorious," alongside her "13" co-star Elizabeth Gillies. The sitcom, set at a performing arts high school, featured Grande as the character Cat Valentine. Cat Valentine was described as "adorably dimwitted," and Grande had to dye her hair red every other week for the role, which caused significant damage to her hair. Despite the challenges, the show premiered in March 2010 to the second-largest audience for a live-action series on Nickelodeon, attracting 5.7 million viewers.


Grande's portrayal of Cat Valentine helped catapult her to teen idol status, but she expressed a greater interest in pursuing a music career. She emphasized that while acting was fun, music had always been her primary passion. Cat Valentine's character was likened to Brittany Murphy's performance as Tai in "Clueless" and was described as impressionable, easily swayed, and generally sweet. This role further showcased Grande's versatility and set the stage for her evolving career in the entertainment industry.


After the first season of "Victorious" concluded, Ariana Grande shifted her focus to her music career and commenced work on her debut album in August 2010. To enhance her vocal range, she started collaborating with vocal coach Eric Vetro. The second season of "Victorious" premiered in April 2011 to an audience of 6.2 million viewers, marking the highest-rated episode of the show.


In May 2011, Grande made an appearance in Greyson Chance's music video for the song "Unfriend You." She portrayed Chance's ex-girlfriend in the video, contributing to the visual representation of the song from his album "Hold On 'til the Night" (2011). Grande's first musical performance was on the track "Give It Up," featured on the "Victorious" soundtrack, released in August 2011.


While filming "Victorious," Grande recorded herself singing covers of songs by artists such as Adele, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey, and uploaded these recordings to YouTube. Her vocal talent caught the attention of a friend of Monte Lipman, the CEO of Republic Records, who then shared the links with Lipman. Impressed by Grande's vocals, Lipman signed her to a recording contract. In November 2011, Grande voiced the title role in the English dub of the Spanish-language animated film "Snowflake, the White Gorilla." Additionally, from 2011 to 2013, she lent her voice to the fairy Princess Diaspro in the Nickelodeon revival of "Winx Club."

References

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