Ariana Grande

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Lore & Background

Grande's music career began in 2008 when she contributed vocals to the cast recording of the musical 13. She went on to star in the Nickelodeon TV sitcom Victorious from 2010 to 2013, contributing to three soundtrack albums released between 2011 and 2012. In 2011, Grande released "Put Your Hearts Up," a bubblegum pop song she later expressed dissatisfaction with, claiming it was inauthentic to her artistry, resulting in its removal from YouTube. Republic Records then granted Grande more creative control over her debut album. Her debut single "The Way" featuring Mac Miller was an R&B song written by Miller, Harmony Samuels, Amber Streeter, Al Sherrod Lambert, Brenda Russell, and Jordin Sparks. Grande's fifth studio album Thank U, Next, released in February 2019, was considered her most personal record up to that point, with Grande co-writing all 12 tracks. The album spawned the international number-one hits "Thank U, Next," "7 Rings," and "Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored."

In Their Own Story

Grande's seventh studio album Eternal Sunshine was released in March 2024 after three years without releasing solo music. The album consisted of her signature pop and R&B sound with added elements of dance music such as house and synth-pop. The lead single "Yes, And?" was a pop-house song released in January 2024. The album spawned two more singles: "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)," a synth-pop song released alongside the album, and "The Boy Is Mine," an R&B track with production echoing music of the 1990s which received a remix featuring Brandy and Monica. For her sixth studio album Positions, released in October 2020, Grande worked primarily with producer Tommy Brown while also enlisting producers she had never worked with before, including London on da Track, Murda Beatz, and Scott Storch. The album featured collaborations with Doja Cat, The Weeknd, and Ty Dolla Sign, with Megan Thee Stallion appearing on the deluxe edition. Recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, Grande developed the album with focus on her vocals and to convey emotional healing.

Reader's Guide

Grande's second studio album My Everything was released in August 2014. The lead single "Problem" featured Iggy Azalea and Big Sean (uncredited) and incorporated elements of jazz and funk. "Break Free" was an EDM song produced by Zedd, which Grande considered experimental as it deviated from her usual pop-R&B styles. "Break Your Heart Right Back" featuring Childish Gambino utilized two samples: "Mo Money Mo Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G. and "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross. Other contributing songwriters and producers on My Everything included Ryan Tedder and David Guetta, who composed "One Last Time," and Harry Styles, former member of British boyband One Direction, who co-wrote "Just a Little Bit of Your Heart."

Grande's third studio album Dangerous Woman was released in May 2016. Initially titled Moonlight, development began in 2015. The intended lead single "Focus" was released in October 2015 but was ultimately scrapped from the record, though it served as a bonus track on the Japanese deluxe edition. The title track incorporated an arena rock chorus and a guitar solo during its bridge. "Side to Side" featuring Nicki Minaj was a dancehall and reggae-pop song. The album also featured collaborations with Macy Gray and Future, who was featured on the fourth and final single "Everyday," released in January 2017. Grande's fourth studio album Sweetener was released in August 2018 to universal acclaim. The lead single "No Tears Left to Cry" incorporated a UK garage beat. "God Is a Woman" was a predominantly mid-tempo pop song with trap elements. "Breathin," a dance-pop song containing influences of synth-pop, was released as the third single in September. Sonically, Sweetener consisted primarily of pop, R&B, and trap songs, with heavily incorporated elements of house, funk, neo soul, and hip-hop.

Did You Know?

• Grande's debut single 'The Way' featuring Mac Miller was written by Miller, Harmony Samuels, Amber Streeter, Al Sherrod Lambert, Brenda Russell, and Jordin Sparks.
• Grande expressed dissatisfaction with her 2011 song 'Put Your Hearts Up,' claiming it was inauthentic to her artistry, resulting in its removal from YouTube.
• Harry Styles, former member of British boyband One Direction, co-wrote 'Just a Little Bit of Your Heart' on Grande's My Everything album.
• Grande's seventh studio album Eternal Sunshine was released in March 2024 after three years without releasing solo music.
• The song 'Break Your Heart Right Back' featuring Childish Gambino samples both 'Mo Money Mo Problems' by The Notorious B.I.G. and 'I'm Coming Out' by Diana Ross.