Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande-Butera was born on June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida. She is the daughter of Joan Grande, the CEO of a communications company, and Edward Butera, a graphic designer. Her parents, who are of Italian descent (Sicilian and Abruzzese roots), moved from New York to Florida before she was born, and they separated when Ariana was around eight or nine years old. She has a close relationship with her older half-brother, Frankie Grande, an entertainer and producer. From a very young age, Grande demonstrated a passion for the performing arts, participating in local children's theater, including playing the title role in Annie. Her prodigious vocal talent led her to perform the national anthem for the Florida Panthers at age eight and to sing with various orchestras. Her professional career began on the stage. At just 15, Grande landed the role of cheerleader Charlotte in the 2008 Broadway musical 13. While pursuing this role, she completed her high school education through a distant learning program from North Broward Preparatory School. In her adult life, Grande has been in the media spotlight for her relationships, most notably her marriage to real estate agent Dalton Gomez from 2021 to 2024. She is recognized for her resilience and compassionate nature, particularly after the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, and maintains a reputation as a fierce advocate for various causes.

Ariana Grande's career began in 2008 on Broadway in the musical 13, but she achieved widespread recognition as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon series Victorious (2010–2013) and its spin-off, Sam & Cat. While acting, she began covering songs on YouTube, showcasing her exceptional four-octave vocal range and signature whistle register, leading to a record deal. Her musical breakthrough came with her R&B-infused debut album, Yours Truly (2013), and the rapid follow-up, My Everything (2014), which launched her into global stardom with massive hits like "Problem" and "Break Free." This success led to her first major world tour, The Honeymoon Tour (2015). Her artistry matured with Dangerous Woman (2016), followed by the Dangerous Woman Tour (2017). This tour was tragically interrupted by a terrorist attack at her Manchester show, which she responded to by organizing the globally televised One Love Manchester benefit concert, showcasing remarkable resilience and compassion. Grande then entered her most critically acclaimed period with albums Sweetener (2018) and thank u, next (2019), which demonstrated greater personal and creative depth. The resulting Sweetener World Tour (2019) became her highest-grossing tour to date, confirming her status as one of the most bankable and influential pop stars of her generation.