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Ariana Grande-Butera, known professionally as Ariana Grande, was born on June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida. She is the daughter of Edward Butera, a graphic design firm owner, and Joan Grande, the CEO of Hose-McCann Communications. Of Italian descent, Ariana has Sicilian and Abruzzese roots. She has an older half-brother, Frankie Grande, an entertainer and producer, notably recognized for judging the 2015 season of ‘America’s Best Dance Crew.’
Ariana Grande is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, and actress, celebrated for her iconic fashion sense and signature hairstyles. She showed a passion for singing and acting from a young age, performing in local theater productions before reaching her teenage years. At just eight years old, she sang ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at the Florida Panthers’ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 16, 2002. Over the years, Ariana has evolved into a pop icon, significantly influencing pop culture and music. Her vocal skills, characterized by a four-octave range and the ability to hit whistle notes, sets her apart as a lyric soprano. In her acting career, she is best known for her role as Cat Valentine on the hit Nickelodeon series ‘Victorious’ and its spin-off, ‘Sam & Cat.’
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Childhood & Young Stardom
From a young age, Ariana performed with the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre, landing her first major role as Annie in the hit musical ‘Annie.’ She also starred as Dorothy in the Little Palm Family Theatre’s production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Crest Theatre. Before the age of 10, she had the opportunity to sing at a karaoke lounge on a cruise ship and perform with various orchestras, including Florida Sunshine Pops and South Florida’s Philharmonic.
Her first big break came at the age of 15 when she landed the role of Charlotte in the Broadway production of ‘13,’ a play focusing on a young teenager’s life as he moves from New York City to Appleton, Indiana. Her performance earned her a National Youth Theatre Association Award. At 16, Grande earned her breakout role in the Nickelodeon series ‘Victorious,’ playing the quirky, red-haired aspiring singer-actress Cat Valentine. This role quickly made her a standout star, beloved by audiences worldwide.
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While growing her acting career, Grande also pursued music. She made one of her first musical appearances on the track ‘Give It Up’ from the ‘Victorious’ soundtrack in August 2011. That same year, she released a single titled ‘Put Your Heart Up,’ catering to her young ‘Victorious’ fanbase.
When the hit television show ‘Victorious’ went off the air in February 2013, Ariana Grande’s character, Cat Valentine, was so beloved that she went on to star in the Nickelodeon spin-off ‘Sam & Cat.’ The series co-starred ‘iCarly’s’ Jennette McCurdy alongside Ariana. The sitcom aired from June 8, 2013, to July 17, 2014, spanning 35 episodes. Although the official reason for the show’s abrupt ending was never released, it fueled much speculation and numerous rumors.
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Albums & Hit Singles
‘Yours Truly’ & ‘My Everything’
If you haven’t heard one of Ariana Grande’s first hit singles, ‘The Way’ from her debut album ‘Yours Truly,’ you missed out on a great moment in 2013. The album, produced by Babyface, marked the beginning of a more mature era for Grande as she moved away from her bubbly Nickelodeon persona. Her music took on the soulful vibe of 1990s Mariah Carey.
The following year, her second studio album ‘My Everything’ sold 169,000 copies in its first week. The number-one hip-hop single ‘Problem,’ featuring Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, preceded the album’s release and debuted at number three on Billboard’s Hot 100. Songs like ‘Break Free’ with Zedd and ‘Love Me Harder’ with The Weeknd followed, both climbing the charts and solidifying Grande’s place in the music industry.
‘Sweetener’
With many more hit singles like ‘Dangerous Woman’ and ‘Focus,’ and albums like the title track ‘Dangerous Woman’ and ‘Christmas & Chill’ in 2015 and 2016, Grande went on a brief musical hiatus in 2017. She made a powerful return in 2018 with ‘No Tears Left to Cry,’ a song in response to the 2017 Manchester concert bombing. Later that year, she released the well-known ‘God Is a Woman’ in July and delighted fans with the relatable track ‘Breathin’ in September. These songs, among others, were featured on her critically acclaimed album ‘Sweetener.’
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‘Thank U, Next’
Ariana Grande’s fifth album, ‘Thank U, Next,’ was a huge success worldwide. The title track was widely loved and became an even bigger hit when the music video featuring Kris Jenner was released. Other notable songs on the album included ‘7 Rings,’ which dropped in January 2019, and ‘Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored,’ released the following month. This album reflected emotions of self-empowerment, vulnerability, grief, and independence, resonating deeply with her fanbase, known as Arianators, who loved every second of it.
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Awards and Achievements
Ariana Grande has been blessed with numerous awards and achievements throughout her journey in the entertainment industry. Among her many accolades, she has won two Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, six iHeartRadio Music Awards, nine MTV Video Music Awards, nine Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, twelve Teen Choice Awards, and holds 36 Guinness World Records. Impressively, her award ratio stands at 256 wins to 663 nominations.
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Impact
The pop sensation has had a significant impact on people with her music and has brought joy to children and teenagers with her television presence. For a long time, pop music had started to fade – particularly from a female perspective, which used to dominate the industry – and more hip-hop, rap, and R&B tunes were dominating the charts. The world was longing for a Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Madonna of this generation, and Ariana Grande delivered just that. Her music had been influential for years, but it was in 2018 and 2019, with her Number 1 Billboard 200 albums ‘Sweetener’ and ‘Thank U, Next,’ that she played a huge role in reviving “girlie pop.”
In addition to her musical and acting talents, Ariana Grande has also released several perfume fragrances. Some of her most notable scents include Ari by Ariana Grande, Sweet Like Candy, and R.E.M. She also has a fragrance with her brother Frankie Grande, Frankie by Ariana Grande. Beyond fragrances, Grande is deeply involved in the community, supporting various causes such as First Responders Children’s Foundation, Kids Who Care, and Make-A-Wish Foundation, to name a few. Her impact extends globally in many ways, making her a beacon of light and hope for many girls and boys over the past decade.
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Upcoming Work
In November 2021, it was announced that Ariana Grande would take on the role of Glinda in the upcoming two-part film adaptation of the beloved musical ‘Wicked.’ Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, and many other amazing actors and actresses. The first part of the film is set to release on November 27, 2024. It will be a delight to see Grande on screen again in such an iconic role!
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
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Author
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Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
