Welcome curious minds to another deep dive. We're
here to cut through the noise and get you truly
informed on topics you're keen to explore. Today,
we're taking a deep, really fascinating look
at a figure who has dominated charts, screens
and cultural conversations for Well, over a decade
now, Ariana Grande. We've poured through a wealth
of information, loads of articles, research,
our own notes, too, to bring you a comprehensive
understanding of her incredible journey. And
this isn't just going to be a chronological list
of achievements. You know, it's more an exploration
of the pivotal moments that shaped her, the records
she didn't just break, but absolutely shattered.
And also the surprising way she's influenced
music, business and even, yeah, social discourse.
Indeed. And what's truly insightful here isn't
solely her extraordinary vocal talent. though
obviously that's huge. It's also the strategic
evolution of her artistry, her groundbreaking
impact on the modern streaming landscape, which
you really can't overstate, and also how she's
navigated intense public scrutiny while somehow
maintaining this powerful sense of authenticity.
So we're going to dissect her trajectory, connect
the dots between her creative choices and her
commercial juggernaut status, and uncover why
she's rightly considered one of the most influential
artists of our era. Exactly. So settle in and
get ready to discover the surprising facts and
key insights behind the phenomenon that is Ariana
Grande Butera. Our mission today is to give you
that shortcut, that real deep understanding,
to being truly well informed about an artist
who has profoundly made her mark. Okay, let's
unpack this then. Even at a very young age, it
seems abundantly clear that Ariana Grande Butera
was, well, destined for the stage. Born June
26, 1993 in Boca Raton, Florida. And she comes
from a family with pretty strong entrepreneurial
spirit, right? Oh, absolutely. Her mother, Joan
Grande, is the CEO of Host McCann Communications.
It's a marine communications equipment company.
Been in the family since 64. And her father,
Edward Butera, owned a graphic design firm. So,
yeah. the only that background. And she's got
Italian heritage, Sicilian and a bruiser's roots.
Plus an older half brother, Frankie Grande, who's
also pretty well known as an entertainer. Right.
Her parents separated when she was quite young,
maybe eight or nine. But she had this really
close bond with her maternal grandmother, Marjorie
Grande, whoever one knows as Nana. Yeah, Nana
is a legend. OK, so her early performance experiences,
they weren't just like school plays. They were
incredibly diverse. Get this at just eight years
old. She sang the Star Spangled Banner at a Florida
Panthers hockey game. Eight. Incredible. And
not just a one off. She was deep into community
theater, too, with the Fort Lauderdale Children's
Theater. She played the title role in Annie,
which is demanding, plus roles in The Wizard
of Oz, Beauty and the Beast. Wow. But it wasn't
all formal stuff either. She was singing in karaoke
lounges on cruise ships. Yeah. And performing
with actual orchestras. South Florida's Philharmonic.
The Florida sunshine pops. So you see, this wasn't
just a kid with a good voice. This was someone
actively, deeply cultivating their craft from
day one. That's a really good way to put it.
It shows that foundation was solid. Exactly.
The real insight from those early years isn't
just the talent, it's the deliberate cultivation,
like you said. Those varied experiences, formal
theater, cruise ships, orchestras, they forged
this unique adaptability and stage presence.
You can see how that early exposure influenced
her later vocal style, her comfort on stage.
It really prepared her for the pivots later in
her career. Right. It wasn't just a sudden thing.
It was built over years. It establishes that
performing was fundamental to her, not just some
passing interest. Absolutely. And that passion,
specifically for music, was incredibly focused
from early on. As a teenager, she moves to Los
Angeles. She's just 14, meeting with managers.
And her vision is already laser sharp. She tells
him she wants to record an R &B album. At 14,
can you imagine being the manager hearing that
pitch? Right. Predictably there was skepticism.
Managers were apparently like, uh, who's going
to buy a 14 -year -old's R &B album? Yeah, not
exactly the standard path. But that dream, that
specific sound she wanted, it just stuck with
her. And around that same time, 2008, before
the TV fame, she makes her Broadway debut. cast
as cheerleader Charlotte in the musical 13. Right,
so she's already on Broadway, proving her performance
chops on a major stage. But yeah, her heart was
clearly set on that R &B path, even then. That
artistic vision was defined super early. Long
before most of us knew her name, it really underscores
that determination. It really does. And it's
a recurring theme, that clarity of purpose, despite
industry expectations or trends. It shows her
R &B aspirations weren't some later addition.
They were core to who she was as an artist from
the beginning. OK, so that R &B dream had to
wait just a little bit longer. The next big step
was Nickelodeon. In 2009, she gets cast in Victorious.
And she's reunited with her 13 co -star, Elizabeth
Gillies. Yeah, playing Cat Valentine. That character
became iconic. The show ran from 2010 to 2013.
And playing Cat, the adorably dim -witted character,
as they described her, it came with challenges,
like the hair dye. Oh, the red hair. She had
to dye it constantly, like every other week.
That was major damage. She's spoken about that.
I bet. But the show is huge. Premiered in March
2010 to 5 .7 million viewers. That's massive.
Absolutely. Instant teen idol status pretty much
overnight. But even with all that TV success,
music was still number one for her. She explicitly
said, acting is fun, but music has always been
first and foremost with me. And she backed that
up. started working on her debut album in August
2010, right after Victoria's Season 1 finished
filming. And she was smart about it, using YouTube,
uploading covers of Adele, Whitney, Mariah Carey,
her idols. Right, and that's what got her noticed
by Republic Records. A friend of the CEO, Monty
Lipman, saw one of those videos. Incredible.
Shows the power of putting yourself out there.
Definitely. And she kept busy with Nickelodeon
Beyond Victorious, too. Voice work, other small
roles. Yeah, Snowflake, The White Gorilla, Winx
Club, starred in a snow -white Christmas panto,
the TV movie Swindle. And when Victorious ended,
Cat Valentine lived on in the spinoff, Sam and
Cat. Right, with Jeanette McCurdy. That character
was just too popular to let go. So if you step
back and look at this period, it's really a master
class in strategy. She used that huge Nickelodeon
platform to build an audience, a massive young
fan base. While simultaneously kind of behind
the scenes. Exactly, diligently working towards
her primary goal. Music, it gave her recognition,
prepared her for the public eye. Even with the
tough stuff like the hair dyeing, it showed commitment.
Totally, a commitment to her real passion, even
amidst that whirlwind of TV fame. Okay, now this
next chapter, this is where things really shift
into high gear musically. That R &B album she
dreamt of at 14, it finally happened. August
30, 2013, yours truly drops. And it wasn't just
like a respectable debut, it was massive. Straight
to number one of the Billboard 200. Yeah, 138
,000 copies per suite. That's a huge statement
for a debut. And it charted top 10 internationally,
too. And the sound. That retro -inspired pop
and R &B, the 50s doo -wop influence. It was
so distinct. Very much her own thing, right from
the start. The lead single, The Way, featuring
Mac Miller. Instant hit. It viewed top 10 on
the Hot 100, peaked at number nine. That song
really announced her arrival as a serious vocalist.
Totally shifted the perception from TV star to
music artist. And there were other great singles,
too. Baby I, right there, with Big Sean. Mm -hmm.
Though The Way did have that lawsuit attached
to it, the one from Minor Music over a lyric
sample. Right, that's true. Small bump in the
road. But she also dropped the Christmas Kisses
EP later that year. Keeping the momentum going.
But yours truly was the main event. It was that
declaration. She was here. R &B infused pop,
incredible voice. Yeah, the comparisons to Mariah
Carey started almost immediately. And understandably
so. Given the vocal range and the R &B leaning,
it marked that critical pivot. A clear statement
of artistic identity. And she didn't waste any
time building on it. Less than a year later,
August 2014, my everything comes out. Another
number one debut on the Billboard 200. 169 ,000
copies first week. Just solidified her power.
And this album showed more versatility, didn't
it? Exploring EDM, dance pop, electro sounds.
Absolutely. She wasn't just sticking to one formula.
And the lead single, Problem with Iggy Azalea,
just wow. Total monster hit. Peaked at number
two in the US, number one UK, New Zealand. And
the digital sales were insane. Haya's first week
digital sales of 2014 made her the youngest woman
to debut with over 400k downloads. Eighth best
-selling digital single globally that year. Just
massive. And the hits just kept rolling off that
album. Break Free with Zedd. Number four in the
US. Then Bang Bang with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj.
Number one UK. Number three US. And Diamond Certified.
First all -female collaboration ever to achieve
that. That's historic. Incredible. And that gave
her three top ten singles on the Hot 100 at the
same time, right? Only Adele had done that before
her as a female lead artist. Precisely. Problem,
break free, bang bang, chart domination. And
then Love Me Harder with the weekend hit number
seven. That was her fourth top ten single in
2014 alone. The most by any artist that year.
She was just unstoppable. And we can't forget
Santa Tell Me from that same year. which has
become this modern Christmas classic. Totally.
Hitting the top five on the hot 100 years later
shows incredible staying power for a holiday
song. So everything really cemented her as a
global force capable of crossing genres and just
churning out hits? Yeah, it showcased her versatility,
her collaboration skills. It locked in her status
as a major commercial powerhouse. The agility
was key. Now this next period involves stepping
into more mature sounds, but also facing an incredibly
difficult, pivotal moment. She started recording
Dangerous Woman, her third album, in 2015. It
was originally called Moonlight. Right. The initial
lead single was Focus, which hit the top ten,
but then they pivoted to the title track, Dangerous
Woman. And Dangerous Woman also debuted in the
top 10, making her the first artist ever to have
the lead single from their first three albums
debut top 10. That consistency is just remarkable.
And her SNL hosting gig around that time was
fantastic. Oh, yeah, she killed it. The impressions
Whitney, Celine, Brittany were amazing, plus
performing Dangerous Woman and Be Alright showcased
her range musically and comedically. The album
itself debuted at number two on Billboard, number
one elsewhere. Got a Grammy nom too. Yeah, best
pop vocal album. And Side to Side with Nicki
Minaj was another huge hit from it, her eighth
top 10. But then, May 22, 2017, the Manchester
Arena bombing. Yeah, a horrific tragedy of her
concert. 22 people killed, hundreds injured,
just unthinkable. She immediately suspended the
tour, understandably. Yeah. But her response
was extraordinary. The One Love Manchester benefit
concert, just two weeks later. June 4th. Bringing
together artists like Liam Gallagher, Justin
Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus. It was such
a powerful statement of unity and resilience.
And it raised 23 million dollars for the victims
and families. An incredible amount. The city
named her their first honorary citizen. She even
reportedly turned down a damehood, feeling it
was too soon. Wow. She handled an unimaginable
situation with such grace and strength. The tour
resumed later that summer. That moment, Manchester.
It transcends music. It raises that important
question about artistry and responsibility. Her
response wasn't just charity. It was profound
solidarity, healing, leadership under the worst
possible pressure. Absolutely. It cemented her
place as more than just an entertainer. She became
a symbol of compassion for many. And following
that trauma, you really see her channeling that
vulnerability into her next musical phase. Right,
sweetener. She'd started working on it with Pharrell
Williams back in 2016. The lead single, No Tears
Left to Cry, came out in April 2018. Such a powerful,
uplifting return. And it debuted at number three
on the Hot 100, extending that incredible record
lead single from her first four albums, debuting
top 10. Only artist ever. Sweetener itself debuted
at number one, got rave reviews, and it won her
her first Grammy. Yes, best pop vocal album.
A huge moment. God is a Woman was another top
10 hit from it, too. And nine songs from the
album charted simultaneously on the Hot 100 shows
the depth. of the record. Plus the docu -series,
Dangerous Woman Diaries, gave insight into the
tour, making Sweetener, and, yeah, processing
Manchester. But then came Thank U! Next, and
this felt like a whole different level of control
and raw honesty. Oh, completely. November 2018,
she just drops the single Thank U! Next, completely
unannounced. And it exploded. Instantly. Debuted
at number one on the Hot 100, her first U .S.
chart topper. Spent seven weeks there, certified
8x platinum now, it was a cultural phenomena.
The music video, too? Broke YouTube records,
most watched in 24 hours, fastest to 100M views
on Vivo. Spotify records, too. Fastest to 100M
streams, most streams for a female artist in
24 hours, until she broke that herself with Seven
Rings. Right, Seven Rings, January 2019, another
unannounced drop, another debut at number one,
her second in a row. And that spent eight weeks
at number one. Became her biggest hit on the
chart, eventually certified diamond, just incredible.
Then the album, Thank You. Next follows in February
2019, debuts at number one, obviously, her fourth
number one album. And her second number one album
in less than six months. Shortest gap for a woman
at the time. It broke streaming records to largest
streaming week for a pop album for any female
album. 307 million streams in a week. And then
the chart feed that blew everyone's minds, holding
the top three spots on the Hot 100 simultaneously.
Seven Rings, break up with your girlfriend. I'm
bored. And thank you. Next. First solo artist
since The Beatles in 64 to do that. Unreal. Plus
she broke the record for most simultaneous top
40 hits for a female artist with 11 tracks charting.
Yeah, thank you. Next wasn't just music, it was
a cultural moment. The candor, the release strategy,
she was absolutely paving her own way. It was
a masterclass, truly. transforming personal pain
into relatable anthems, taking control of the
narrative, disrupting the industry norms. It
showed a new level of artistic maturity and business
savvy. And that momentum carried right into 2019
and 2020, where she really solidified her status
as this go -to collaborator. Yeah, first co -exec
producing the Charlie's Angels soundtrack in
2019. And releasing Boyfriend with Social House,
which topped the Rolling Stone chart for women.
Then 2020 was just hit after hit with collaborations.
Stuck with you with Justin Bieber in May. A charity
single for COVID relief, which was great and
it debuted at number one on the Hot 100. Making
her the first artist whose first three number
ones all debuted at the top. That's a crazy stat.
It really is. And then just weeks later, she's
on Lady Gaga's Rain On Me. Which also debuted
at number one, breaking the record again for
most number one debuts. And they won a Grammy
for it. Best pop duo group performance. Just
stacking up the accolades. Then October 2020,
her sixth album, Positions. Another number one
debut on the Billboard 200. Her fifth. And that
set another record fastest accumulation of three
number one albums by a woman. The title track,
Positions, also debuted atop the Hot 100, her
fifth chart topper. Which made her the first
artist ever to have five number one debuts on
the Hot 100. And the first, whose first five
number ones all debuted at the top. She just
kept rewriting the record books. Wild. And 34
plus 35 became a huge hit too, especially the
remakes with Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion.
Reached number two. And she even replaced herself
in number one on the pop airplay chart and held
the top two spot solo. Unprecedented stuff. So
this period really shows her not just as a solo
star, but as someone who elevates every project
she joins. Absolutely. Her consistent record
breaking debuts demonstrate this unparalleled
commercial appeal. This ability to connect instantly
with a massive audience. She's a hit maker, solo
or collaborating. And this latest chapter, it
shows Ariana evolving yet again, musically, professionally,
embracing new sounds and circling back to acting.
Right, starting with a Save Your Tears remix
with The Weeknd in April 2021. Another number
one on the Hot 100 and the Global 200 made her
the first woman with multiple number ones on
that global chart. And that collab tied her with
Paul McCartney only artist with three number
one duets on the Hot 100. Incredible company.
Then, March 2024, Eternal Sunshine, her seventh
album. And this felt like a fresh direction.
Definitely. Her first real deep dive into dance
and house music influences. And it was met with
universal acclaim. Critics called it one of her
most mature, sophisticated records. The lead
single, Yes, And. Debuted at number one, Hot
100 and Global 200. Keeping the streak alive.
And the second single, We Can't Be Friends, Wait
For Your Love, also debuted at number one. Which
gave her the record for the woman with the most
hot 100 number one debuts. Seven now. And with
Eternal Sunshine and Thank You, next, she's the
first woman with two albums to produce multiple
number one single debuts. Just wow. The consistency
is staggering. But alongside this musical shift,
she also signaled a focus shift towards acting.
Right. Saying she'd likely scale back the pop
music output a bit. And she proved that commitment
with Wicked. Starring as Glinda in the huge 2024
film adaptation. And she got incredible reviews,
even an Oscar nomination. Yeah. And she was credited
as Ariana Grande Butera for the film, which was
a nice touch, linking back to when she first
saw the show as a kid. Took extensive acting
and singing lessons for it, too. Really dedicated
herself to the role. And the film was a massive
success, right? Highest grossing musical adaptation
ever. Over $750 million worldwide. Huge. And
her SNL hosting gig to promote it got the show
its best ratings in years. And then she released
the deluxe Eternal Sunshine with a short film,
her directorial debut. It really shows this evolution
into a multifaceted artist. Pop star, acclaimed
actress. now director. It's not your typical
pop star trajectory at all. No, it's a strategic
diversification, leveraging that early theater
background, showing real artistic growth beyond
just music. It suggests a more mature, self -directed
artist defining her own path, moving beyond expectations.
So beyond the charts and the acting, let's dig
into her artistry itself. Her hands -on approach
is pretty remarkable. Her music is generally
pop and R &B, but she's consistently woven in
other elements, EDM, hip hop, and especially
trap, right? Yeah, the trap influence became
really prominent, particularly starting around
the Christmas and Chill EP and grew from there.
A lot of that comes through her collaboration
with producer Tommy Brown. They've worked together
on every single album. And she's praised him
for always bringing diverse beats, saying none
of the beats he plays may ever sound the same.
That synergy is key. Absolutely. But what really
sets her apart is her level of creative control
and technical involvement. This is fascinating.
She actually learned to sound engineer and produce
her own vocals. Yes, because she loves being
hands -on. And apparently, it was Mac Miller
who first taught her Toe Tools, the recording
software. Wow, that's a great detail. And her
collaborators noticed this deep involvement.
Right. Songwriter Justin Tranter talked about
being inspired by how engaged she is, from the
writing, to the vision, to the storytelling,
and to even engineering and comping her own vocals.
So she's not just showing up to sing. She's deeply
involved in crafting the whole sound. Exactly.
That level of... creative control is crucial.
It ensures her artistic vision stays consistent
even as she explores different genres. She's
an architect of her sound. And then there's the
voice itself, it's legendary, described as a
soprano. With a four octave vocal range apparently
and that whistle register those incredibly high
notes she can hit. Yeah, the comparisons to Mariah
Carey have been there from the start mainly because
of that range and control. BBC News called her
one of pop's most intriguing and gifted singers
with unrivaled vocal control. John Perelis at
The New York Times had a great description. Her
voice can be silky, breathy or cutting, always
supple and airborne, never forced, shows the
versatility. And her main influences are exactly
who you'd expect. Mariah Carey, her favorite
human being on the planet, she said. And Whitney
Houston. two absolute titans. Plus others like
Destiny's Child, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera,
even Madonna for paving the way. And Judy Garland,
interestingly, for her storytelling through song.
Yeah, shows an appreciation for emotional delivery,
not just technique. Now, there was some criticism
early on about her enunciation, right? There
was, yeah, something she acknowledged and said
she worked on. And critics definitely noted improvement,
especially on Eternal Sunshine, attributing it
partly to the intense vocal training for Wicked.
Right. It shows the continuous dedication to
refining her instrument, even after achieving
massive success. Her voice is central to everything.
And not just vocal influences, though. Musically,
she cited others like India Airy. Whose music
makes her feel like everything is going to be
OK. And Brandi Norwood for her incredibly on
point. Riffs. And Imogen Heap is a huge one for
her, right? Yeah. Called Heap her favorite musician,
praised her intricate song structure. That eclectic
taste definitely informs her own willingness
to experiment. But here's a really key insight
into her strategic thinking, her independence.
She talked about rappers' release strategies.
Yes. This is fascinating. She admired how rappers
could just drop music unexpectedly. She told
Billboard she felt pop women were held to different,
stricter standards than men. Bruh, I just wanna
drop music the way these boys do. That was her
quote. And that directly led to the surprise
release of Thank You Next. Exactly. The ringer
called it more of a Drake move than an Ariana
Grande move at the time. It was a deliberate
choice to challenge those traditional pop rollouts,
take control of her narrative. It shows a really
savvy understanding of the modern music landscape
and a strong desire for creative autonomy, not
just following the rules, but changing them.
OK, let's talk about her public image. Her style
evolution alone has been really interesting to
watch. Definitely. Early on, she cited Audrey
Hepburn as an influence. More modest, age appropriate,
as some described it. But she later said she
found that a little boring, right? And started
drawing from 50s, 60s actresses like Anne Margaret,
Nancy Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe. Yeah, by 2014,
there was a clear shift. She embraced the short
skirts, crop tops, the signature knee -high boots
for performances. And the playful stuff too.
The cat ears, the bunny ears sometimes, the oversized
hoodies. But nothing became more iconic than
the high ponytail. The ponytail, it's almost
its own entity. Gets more attention than anything
else she wears sometimes. And the backstory is
interesting too. It wasn't just a style choice
initially. Right, because of all the red hair
dye for Victoria's damaging her hair so badly.
She started wearing extensions and defaulted
to the ponytail to m - manage it while her hair
recovered. It became her signature look out of
necessity almost. And now it's instantly recognizable,
copied everywhere. It really tracks her journey
from teen star to confident woman. And navigating
public scrutiny has been a constant part of that
journey. She learned to manage her image pretty
effectively over time. Back in 2014, there were
those reports about alleged diva behavior being
impolite. Which she shut down as weird, inaccurate
depictions, saying she wouldn't let others control
her image, setting a boundary early on. Then
came the donut gate incident in 2015. That was
memorable. Yeah, the security footage of her
licking donuts and saying, I hate Americans.
Yeah. Not her finest moment. She apologized quickly,
first linking it to concerns about obesity, then
a more direct video apology for behaving corely.
And she handled it with some humor later, parodying
it on SNL. Smart way to play move past it it
shows growth and she admitted in 2020 that she'd
held back from interviews for a while fearing
misinterpretation or the diva label which demonstrates
a very thoughtful Cautious approach to media
engagement learning from past experiences despite
these bumps her connection with fans Especially
online is massive. Oh huge one of the most followed
people on Instagram globally First woman passed
150 million, then 200 million followers. Fifth
most followed artist on Spotify. Second most
subscribed female solo act on YouTube. The numbers
are staggering. But she's also deliberate about
how she uses social media. Deleting her Twitter
account in 2021 was a big move. Yeah, explaining
she wanted to communicate directly with fans
without messages being twisted by people who
don't speak our language. Prioritizing that healthy
relationship to my fans and to art, as she put
it, while still being very much an on -the -internet
person. It shows a really active engagement with
the challenges of modern fame trying to maintain
authenticity. And beyond the music and image,
she's built this incredible business empire.
She's a serious entrepreneur. Seriously, the
fragrance line alone is mind blowing. Launched
with Lux brands back in 2015. And has generated
over a billion dollars in global retail sales
since then. One billion. It's the most searched
celebrity fragrance brand out there. 18 fragrances
so far. Ari, Sweet Like Candy, Moonlight. Clout
was apparently a massive seller at Ulta. Yeah,
supposedly sold one bottle every 11 seconds at
its peak. Crazy. Plus, thank you. Next, R .E
.M., which won an award. God is a woman. And
then she launched her own makeup line, R .E .M.
Beauty, in November 2021. Distributed through
Ulta and Sephora. And it quickly won Best New
Brand at the Allure Awards. Shows it has real
credibility. Definitely. And that's on top of
countless other endorsements and collaborations
over the years. Coach Handbags, Emmy Viva Glam,
Lipsy London Fashion, those Brookstone cat ear
headphones. The character in a Final Fantasy
game, Reebok Ambassador, American Express, Starbucks,
Cloud Macchiato, Givenchy, Swarovski. The list
goes on. And the reported figure of earning $1
.6 million per sponsored Instagram post just
shows the power of her personal brand. It really
does. Her business ventures aren't just side
projects. They show a sophisticated understanding
of brand extension, direct consumer engagement.
Her name alone drives massive retail success.
Something else that's been consistent throughout
her career is her commitment to giving back,
starting really young. Yeah, it's quite inspiring.
At just 10 years old, she co -founded this youth
singing group in South Florida called Kids Who
Care. And they weren't just singing for fun.
They performed at charity events and raised over
half a million dollars by 2007. Incredible for
kids. And then in 2009, through Broadway in South
Africa, she and her brother Frankie went to Google
Ethu. Right, teaching music and dance to children
there. That kind of hands -on work early on must
have been formative. Absolutely. It shows philanthropy
wasn't just something she adopted later with
fame. It was ingrained from a young age. It built
that foundation for her later activism. And as
her platform grew, her advocacy expanded to cover
a really wide range of social and political issues.
Yeah, quite consistently. Anti -bullying campaigns
early on, like Delete Digital Drama. Animal rights
advocacy, famously speaking out against SeaWorld
after watching Blackfish. And she promotes pet
adoption constantly. Performed at Stand Up to
Cancer in memory of her grandfather. Connecting
personal loss to public action. And she's been
a very staunch feminist. That essay she wrote
on Twitter about misogyny and double standards
in media coverage. That got a lot of attention,
calling out the focus on female artists' relationships
over their work. Very powerful. Huge supporter
of LGBT rights, too. Performing at Pride events,
supporting Miley Cyrus' Happy Hippie Foundation.
And she's cited her brother Frankie being gay
as part of why she left the Catholic Church.
Makes her advocacy very personal. Released Better
Days with Victoria Monet for Black Lives Matter
in 2016. Participated in the Concert for Charlottesville,
March for Our Lives. Donated proceeds from a
tour show to Planned Parenthood. She doesn't
shy away from taking a stand. During COVID, she
donated directly to fans, supported Project 100
for families in need, sent gifts to kids in Manchester
hospitals at Christmas. Signed open letters for
the Equality Act against book bands. Partnered
with BetterHelp to give away millions in therapy.
Launch the Protect and Defend Trans Youth Fund,
pledging to match donations up to $1 .5 million.
Sign the Bans Off Our Bodies ad for abortion
rights. Politically, she's been clear with endorsements.
Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, spoken
out against Trump policies, supported impeachment
calls, signed to the artist's store ceasefire
letter regarding Gaza, shared fundraisers for
humanitarian aid. It's a broad and consistent
engagement. It really highlights this thread
of activism woven through her whole career, evolving
from personal causes to taking stands on major
social and political issues often rooted in her
own values or experiences. She uses her platform.
And related to that, she made a really powerful
call regarding mental health in the entertainment
industry. Yes, in February 2025. advocating for
therapy for young entertainers, suggesting weekly
appointments be built into contracts. That feels
particularly significant coming from her, given
her own openness about PTSD and anxiety after
Manchester. And her history of being in therapy
since she was young, after the parents' divorce.
So it's not just talk, it's using her lived experience
to push for systemic change in her industry.
What kind of impact did that have? It's potentially
huge. It raises that critical question about
the industry's responsibility to young talent.
Her advocacy is deeply personal, informed by
her own journey. It shows real leadership, trying
to create a more supportive environment based
on what she knows are immense pressures. It's
about changing the system from within. Okay,
let's talk legacy. The numbers alone are just
staggering. She's rewritten the rulebook for
success in the digital age. Undeniably one of
the best -selling artists ever. Over 90 million
records sold worldwide, estimated. And all her
studio albums are certified platinum or higher
in the U .S. Every single one charted for at
least a full year on the Billboard 200. That's
longevity. My Everything is her biggest certified
album. Forex Platinum. Thank you. Next is her
longest charting. 171 weeks. Incredible staying
power. In the US, she's the fifth highest certified
female artist for digital singles. Overall, 25th
highest certified artist. And the straining numbers
are just astronomical. One of the most streamed
artists of all time. First female artist to pass
90 billion global streams back in 2021. Most
streamed female artist of the 2010s on Spotify
and Apple Music. Currently second most streamed
woman ever on Spotify. Sixth overall. Over 54
billion streams there alone. First woman with
one and two billion streams on a single album.
First artist with five albums hitting four billion
streams each. Holds the record for most songs,
over a billion streams for a female artist on
Spotify. 21 of them. Became the first woman with
over 123 million monthly listeners on Spotify
in 2024. And even Santa Tell Me is the most streamed
2010s Christmas song. It's not just popularity.
its profound sustained impact. She's defined
what success looks like in the streaming era,
a true architect of modern pop dominance. And
it's not just sales and streams. The awards and
critical recognition are extensive. Two Grammy
wins, including that best pop vocal album for
Sweetener. A Brit Award, 10 MTV VMAs, fifth most
for a woman. Three AMAs, two Billboard Music
Awards, including Top Female Artist, loads of
Kids' Choice, People's Choice, iHeartRadio, Teen
Choice Awards. Billboard recognized her early
as rising star in 2014, then woman of the year
in 2018, named her the biggest pop star of 2019.
IFPI listed her among the world's top 10 bestselling
artists three years running. And the acting acclaim
for Wicked Oscar. Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG nominations.
That's huge crossover recognition. Plus Time
100 most influential twice. Wax figures everywhere.
Nicknames like Princess of Pop, Princess of Christmas.
Rolling Stone ranking her among the 200 greatest
singers. Katy Perry calling her the best singer
of our generation. That pure respect is significant.
It shows she's not just commercially successful,
but genuinely respected for her artistry and
impact across the board. And the chart records.
They are just unprecedented, leading to nearly
40 Guinness World Records. Nine singles topping
the Billboard Hot 100, 23 top 10 songs total,
16 of those debuting in the top 10. And that
unique record, the lead single from her first
seven albums debuting top 10. No one else has
done that. First artist whose first five number
ones debuted at the top broke the record for
most number one debuts overall. First female
artist to top the Global 200, Global Exelories
OIS, and Hot 100 all at once. Tied the Beatles
record by holding the top three spots on the
Hot 100 simultaneously. Surpassed Paul McCartney
for most number one duets. Fourth woman with
the most Hot 100 entries ever. Tied with Taylor
Swift for most number one debuts. The Guinness
records cover everything. Spotify records, fastest
UK chart tricks, replacing herself at number
one. It's relentless. This isn't just hitting
milestones. It's fundamentally altering the record
books, a testament to her talent, strategy, and
connection with a massive global audience. And
finally, the ultimate validation, perhaps, influencing
other artists. Right. When your peers, especially
successful ones, cite you as an inspiration,
that speaks volumes. And the list is impressive
and diverse. Billie Eilish, Chappell Rhone, Charlie
Puth, Madison Beer, Meghan Trainor, Troye Sivan,
Zara Larsson, even Jungkook from BTS, Lana Del
Rey. It spans genres and styles. It shows her
reach extends far beyond her own fan base, impacting
the sound and approach of the next wave of musicians.
That's a powerful legacy. Hashtag tag tag. So
wrapping this all up, what does it all mean?
From those early Boca Raton performances to shattering
global records and starring in huge films, Ariana
Grande's journey is just this incredible story
of consistent talent, yes, but also strategic
evolution and this unwavering commitment to her
craft and also to her values. She's clearly more
than just a pop star. She's a sharp businesswoman,
a vocal advocate, a true powerhouse in modern
entertainment, always redefining things. Absolutely.
We've seen how she's constantly pushed artistic
boundaries, rewritten the rules of commercial
success, in the streaming age and used her massive
platform for real social impact. Her story really
makes you think critically about what celebrity
means today and the power an artist has to shape
not just music, but culture itself. through her
choices, her control, her advocacy. So as you
reflect on this incredible, really multifaceted
career, we'll leave you with this provocative
thought to mull over. In this constantly changing
media landscape, what new boundaries might an
artist like Ariana Grande with this unique mix
of vocal mastery, business drive, and deep social
engagement explore next? And how might that continue
to redefine what we even mean by the term superstar?
Thank you for diving deep with us today. We really
hope you feel truly well -informed.