Ariana Grande has established herself as one of the most influential pop artists of the 2010s and 2020s, known for her powerhouse vocals, genre-blending sound, and increasingly sophisticated artistic vision. She first emerged as a performer on Nickelodeon before launching her music career with Yours Truly (2013), an R&B-influenced debut that introduced her wide vocal range and produced her breakout hit "The Way", which would become her first Top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Its parent album would go on to become Ariana's first #1 album on the Billboard 200 album chart, and receive critical acclaim.

 

Her subsequent albums, My Everything (2014) launched Grande into global superstardom, delivering smash singles such as "Problem", "Break Free", "Bang Bang", and "Love Me Harder", further positioning her as one of the most reliable hitmakers of the era. The album, a blend of EDM, pop, and R&B would take Grande's sleek, radio-dominant sound and transform her into a mainstream pop powerhouse. She captured the hearts of the general public and critics, earning her first Grammy nominations.

 

 

Grande's follow-up Dangerous Woman (2016) would further elevate her artistic identity. The album leans into mature themes and more dynamic vocal performances than ever before. Its standout singles include "Dangerous Woman", "Side to Side", and fan-favourite "Into You". Despite its success and warm critical reception, this era included several scandals and personal tragedies including mismanagement by manager Scooter Braun (resulting in a brief termination of their managerial relationship) and the infamous 'Donut Gate' incident.

 

On May 22, 2017 tragedy struck when a terrorist attack occurred during the European leg of the Dangerous Woman tour resultingin the death of 22 fans, including children. The tragedy became a defining moment in Grande's career, and a profound test of her strength, compassion, and leadership. In the wake of the Manchester attack, the city of Manchested united in an extraordinary show of resilience and solidarity. The benefit concert, "One Love Manchester" raised millions of dollars for the victims' families, symbolizing hope, healing, and collective defiance in the face of tragedy. 

 

 

 

 

 

Grande reached a new level of artistic and commercial momentum with Sweetener (2018). Her album, produced by Pharell Williams, blended off-kilter pop, trap, and R&B to produce Grande's most experimental and bold album. Her return to music following the Manchester attack was kicked off with the anthemic "no tears left to cry", which rocketed to the Top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up singles, "God is a woman" and "breathin" would become huge hits in their own right, marking a sonic shift towards innovation. Sweetener would become Grande's first Grammy win for 'Best Pop Vocal Album', and is often regarded as a pivotal moment in Grande's career and creative journey as an artist.

 

 

 Six months after Sweetener, Grande would release Thank U, Next (2019) which would become of the defining pop releases of the decade. Written after the aftermath of personal upheaval, the album explored heartbreak, grief, independence, and growth. The title track would go on to become Grande's first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with just three days of tracking data. The follow-up "7 rings" would become Grande's biggest hit, spending multiple weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Grande became the first solo artist to occupy the entirety of the Top 3 simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 when the album was released, the first since the Beatles. The album broke multiple streaming records, cemented her cultural impact, and was lauded by critics.

 

 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and during the heated US presidential election, Grande took to Twitter on October, 2020 to tweet, "I can't wait to give you my album this month" which took the internet by storm. Grande would release her sixth studio album Positions (2020) to resounding commercial success, spawning a #1 hit with its title track, and smash follow-up single "34+35". The album's final single "pov" would go on to become a cult classic amongst fans. The album, while more understated than the zany Sweetener and bold Thank U, Next showcased Grande's vocal maturity and a smoother production aesthetic, expanding her identity beyond high-energy pop into sensual, atmospheric territory. The album's themes focus on healing, growth following trauma, and pursuing new love with her then-husband.

 

Grande's musical presence took a backseat as she was cast in the iconic role of G(a)linda in the Wicked film adaptation. Her dedication to the film would result in a four year delay between Positions and her long-awaited follow up Eternal Sunshine (2024). Recorded in one week during the actor's strike, Eternal Sunshine is a conceptually cohesive and emotionally introspective album exploring themes of love, heartbreak, self-reflection, and Grande's increasingly complex relationship with the media. Grande's long-awaiting first single as a solo artist "yes, and?" would fly to the top spot of the Hot 100. Its follow-up, "we can't be friends" would join it at the summit, becoming Grande's 9th #1 single, putting her in rare company amongst female soloists. 

 

The era included a "slightly deluxe" edition featuring a remix with Mariah Carey, highlighting Grande's evolution from Carey's vocal descendant to direct collaborator. This period underscored her continued growth as both a vocalist and songwriter. She has also released a 2025 deluxe reissue, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, adding further depth to the project and earning her "Video of the Year" at the 2025 VMA's.

 

 

Grande has also earned acclaim as an actress. Her role as Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked became a milestone in her career, contributing to the film's global box-office success of over $700 million and earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress — one of the most notable cross-medium achievements by a modern pop star. The sequel, Wicked: For Good  grossed 150M WW in its first weekend alone.

Edited November 22, 2025Nov 22 by R.E.M.

she’s the voice of our generation literally a living legend in the making  

Ahh we love a legend 

just like magic should have been a single.

 

She should be cancelled for not releasing it.

 

love language, 34+35 and my hair are the trinity of Positions 

Off the Table is a career highlight.

The voice of this generation 

sweetener remains her best project btw 

Stream safety net

hello ladies cant wait for our daily AG7 meltdowns as we get daily REM Beauty posts

a legend! stream love language and worst behavior

A singer, writer, producer, actress, and comedienne

Spoiler

 

sweetener will always be her best album 

If you're gonna keep talking my love language

Baby talk your **** all night

 

The only thing I hate about POS are the fade outs.

the prince of positions stannings has arrived 

a real artist!

The iT girl of pop 

Moonlight is top 3 

Pete Davidson is my song. The power couple that got away 

Stream her 2nd best song & her best video. But WOW what a MOMENT.  

 

 

she's never releasing again I fear, shut the base down!  reverse psychology teas to make her ass release AG7 faster!

WE HEAA stream positions ladies  can’t wait for more REM beauty products 

helloo 

Legend