Musical star turned television actress turned global pop icon, Ariana Grande’s rise to fame is legendary. Showcasing her potential at just 8 years old, she took the pop world by storm in 2012 following her major success on Nickelodeon. She amassed a fairly underground but dedicated fan base before becoming the first artist to ever hold the top three spots on the chart. Billboard Hot 100. Her origins as a children’s TV host and Broadway actress are well known and revered by fans, but what else should you know about Ariana Grande?
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1. She performed in a musical with Neil Patrick Harris.
Many are familiar with Grande’s role as Charlotte in 13: Musicalwhere she shared the stage with future Victorious cast Elizabeth Gillies. But they may not be familiar with some of her other musical roles.
In December 2012, she played Snow White in Snow White Christmas, a daring modern take on the beloved tale, produced by Lythgoe Family Productions at the Pasadena Playhouse. Grande donned the iconic blue and yellow dress and red bow while performing a duet with Kurt Hansen as the prince. The play was family-friendly, interactive and appropriate for the holiday rush, with its themes of love and kindness. To encourage viewers to sing along, many of the characters sing radio classics, such as Bruno Mars’ “Lazy Song” (performed by The Seven Dwarfs) and Snow White sings Katy Perry’s “Fireworks.” Neil Patrick Harris was also part of the show, although he was not on stage; he was the Magic Mirror, the show’s narrator.
Ariana Grande continues to stay connected to her musical theater roots, even despite her status as a mega-pop star. She has been cast as Glinda in the 2024 film adaptation of the famous musical. Wickedalong with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Other actors include Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
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2. She loves horror and the supernatural.
With her quirky, Judy Garland-inspired look, the last curiosity one might think of about Grande is her favorite horror movie. However, the 2013 interview Difficultand another one in 2014 with Billboard, prove that this is a worthwhile question. Grande was raised to love figures like Freddy Krueger and films like Mother And Jaws. She said Billboard“I always wanted to paint my face with a skeleton or wear a Freddy Krueger mask, and I carried a hockey stick with me… We had a party for my fifth birthday Jaws topic, and all my friends left in tears.”
When asked about her favorite horror films in 2013, she replied: “Currently it’s Mother. This is really cool. I like it Ringtoo much. Paranormal activity the series is good and I like it Shed in a woods because he has a sense of humor.” She owes her fascination with the dark and twisted to having grown up in a no-holds-barred family that often went above and beyond to enhance Halloween decorations and celebrations.
3. She was an avid fan (and frequent target?) of the Florida Panthers.
Grande’s ultra-fans may remember when a photo of her surfaced as a young girl waving from a Zamboni at a Florida Panthers hockey game in 1998. But Grande’s fandom story goes beyond her parents winning a $200 Zamboni ride at an auction. .
At age 5, still living in Boca Raton, Florida, Grande enjoyed front row seats at Florida Panthers games, wearing her own jersey. Even then, she was a celebrity in gaming, both because of how charming she was and because of her incredible luck in becoming a “hit with the fans.” She was hit by a stray hockey puck not once, but twice in two years. In the first case, the puck hit her right wrist, in the second, her left.
Four years later, Grande, now 8, was invited back to the rink to sing the national anthem before the Panthers’ game against the Chicago Blackhawks. It could be argued that this foresaw her career as a performer even before her first musical performances.
4. She didn’t just star in the title role. Victorious And Sam and Cat
Grande signed her first record deal in 2011 while still on set. Victorious. Until her popularity exploded around the world, she was widely known as a children’s show actress with a passion for pop music.
Thus, during this time, channels like Nickelodeon continued to cast her in film and television roles, leading her to participate in an eclectic collection of projects. Between now-iconic music videos, sometimes alongside artists like Big Sean and Mac Miller, Billboard-The graphic artist found time for her work on the Nickelodeon sitcom, appearing in films such as 2013. Fraudand voice acting for the 2011 animated series. Winx Club.
In the series, she played geek-turned-cheerleader Amanda. Fraudstill with bright red hair and a high-pitched voice like her. Victorious character, Kat. She played alongside Jeanette McCurdy, with whom she soon co-starred in the series. Sam and Cat. She would voice Princess Diaspro on Winx Club and several of its spin-offs, a role she will hold until 2013.
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5. She is influenced by Whitney Houston and Madonna.
Ariana Grande’s stellar voice has captivated those around her from the first days of her life.
When she first entered the pop scene, publications like Buzzfeed described her as a “Mini Mariah Carey,” thanks in part to a video she posted on YouTube of her flawlessly performing Carey’s song “Emotions.”
Her cover of “Emotions,” as well as several other webcam covers by artists such as Adele and Beyoncé, caught the attention of her first label, Republic Records, in 2011. From here, she also cited artists such as Whitney Houston as influences. She told Limelight Spotlight in 2012, “As far as vocal influences go, Whitney and Mariah are pretty much hiding it.” As for Madonna, Grande admires her not only for her successes, but also for her resilience in the face of misogyny in the industry. She told the AP in 2017: “I am so inspired by her courage and strength. I can look at her and not be afraid to be strong.”
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AG