Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande has had three careers in fifteen years: Nickelodeon actress, one of the biggest pop singers of her generation, and, more recently, an Oscar-nominated film actress. Few artists have changed lanes that often and stayed at the top each time.

From Boca Raton to Broadway and Nickelodeon

She was born on 26 June 1993 in Boca Raton, Florida. Her first professional role was on Broadway, in the musical 13 in 2008. Two years later she landed the part of Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon’s Victorious, a role she later continued in the spin-off Sam & Cat.

The pop years

Her debut album Yours Truly came out in 2013, and the hits followed fast. The albums that defined her run:

• My Everything (2014) and Dangerous Woman (2016)
• Sweetener (2018), which won her first Grammy, for Best Pop Vocal Album
• Thank U, Next (2019) and Positions (2020)
• Eternal Sunshine (2024)

Her four-octave range and the whistle notes are what most people mention first, but her real strength has always been turning very personal stories into huge singles.

Glinda, and an Oscar nomination

In 2024 she played Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked, opposite Cynthia Erivo. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and she returned for the second part, Wicked: For Good, in 2025.

Beyond music

She launched her own make-up brand, r.e.m. beauty, in 2021, and she remains one of the most followed people on Instagram.

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