Open Now
Open Now
Watch now

Ariana Grande’s career timeline from tween starlet to R&B diva

With 10 years in her ponytail as a pop star and in honor of her sixth album debuting this week, we take a look back at her career.

Ariana Grande has been everywhere this year — from the romantic ballad “Stuck With U” with Justin Bieber to making it rain with Lady Gaga on “Rain on Me” to her brand-new R&B-tinged single “Positions.” With 10 years in her ponytail as a pop star and in honor of her sixth album debuting this week, we take a look back at her various “positions.”

2010: The Tween Starlet

Ariana Grande as Cat Valentine.AARON WARKOV/NICKELODEON

After years on the musical-theater circuit (and casually making her Broadway debut in 2008’s “13”), Grande is cast as the flame-haired ditz Cat on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious,” taking her straight into the bedrooms of tweens across the country.

2013: The Innocent Chanteuse

Ariana Grande in 2013.WireImage

Sporting her natural brown hair, Grande’s debut album features her crooning love songs in sweet girly dresses and pearl earrings, as well as dueting with future exes Mac Miller and Big Sean.

2014: The Dancing Queen

Ariana Grande in 2014.FilmMagic

Grande debuts her signature high-and-tight ponytail, and a barrage of electronic dance hits cements her as a global superstar. With four bangers (“Problem,” “Break Free,” “Bang Bang” and “Love Me Harder”), no one in 2014 had more Top 10 hits.

2016: The Dangerous Woman

Ariana Grande on “SNL” in 2016.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via

Maybe tricks aren’t just for kids! Slick in a bunny-inspired leather catsuit, Grande lets us know she’s all grown up on her album “Dangerous Woman.” She also makes her debut hosting “Saturday Night Live.”

2017: The Benevolent Activist

Ariana Grande in 2017.Kevin Mazur/One Love Manchester

A longtime supporter of LGBTQ causes, Grande really showed her love for her fans after her concert at Manchester Arena was the target of a suicide bombing. An emotional Grande raised $23 million with a televised benefit concert for victims and families.

2018-19: The R&B Diva

Ariana Grande in 2020.Getty Images for The Recording A

The pop and dance tracks take a backseat as a darker, more personal Grande emerges on her fifth album, “Sweetener.” On “Thank U, Next,” she bounces back from a public breakup with Pete Davidson with the titular kiss-off anthem.

Follow us on Google News