Ariana Grande performing on Saturday Night Live in New York.Image via NBC
By
Fiona MacPherson-Amador
Published 49 minutes ago
Curious from birth, Fiona is a music writer, researcher, and cultural theorist based in the UK. She studied her Bachelor of Music in London, specializing in audiovisual practices, and progressed to a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Her MA research focused on the societal impact of sound within urban communities and how the narratives of art can contribute to their shaping and commentary.
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Ariana Grande has always been at the top of her game. Whether it’s the top of the charts, winning Teen Choice Awards, or starring in Wicked, she’s always been killing it. Before she became a globally renowned superstar, Grande charmed young audiences on Nickelodeon with a hit role in Victorious. This was an incredible start to her career, but Grande was destined to rule the music world. Her 2013 entrance into pop, rooted in R&B influences, helped to shape her adult identity. In doing so, Grande gained more high-profile performances, like The Macy’s Day Parade, and grew her audience by covering a Christmas classic by the pop icon, George Michael.
How Ariana Grande Found Her Voice Beyond the Nickelodeon Screen
Up until 2013, Ariana Grande had built up her career in kids’ entertainment. She mastered the role of Cat Valentine for Nickelodeon, who first featured in Victorious, and later in a successful spin-off, Sam and Cat. In this role, Grande completely charmed her young audience by playing the character of Cat in an incredibly fun and vibrant way. From early on, Grande showcased her ability to exude joy and sharp comedic timing embedded within wildly impressive vocal performances.
Grande quickly became a teen icon in her television career with her effortless charm. However, she was determined to steer her career on a different path. Even before Grande found television stardom, music had been a priority for her. In 2014, Grande told Rolling Stone Magazine that acting was "fun, but music has always been first and foremost with me." Grande echoed the sentiment later that year in Billboard, recalling that when she first met her management team in Los Angeles, "I was like, 'I want to make an R&B album,' They were like 'Um, that's a helluva goal! Who is going to buy a 14-year-old's R&B album?!'"
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Posts By Ryan Louis Mantilla Jul 18, 2025Grande achieved her goal in 2013 when she released her first studio album, Yours Truly, which certainly has strong R&B influences. The debut record showcased Grande’s incredible vocals in a more mature context. It was also a great introduction to the pop world as herself, rather than a character that was perhaps getting increasingly difficult to detach herself from.
Ariana Grande’s Spin On A Seasonal Classic
2013 continued to be a musically busy year for Grande, and she released and recorded a holiday EP, Christmas Kisses. The EP featured two original songs and two covers of Christmas classics, one of which was “Last Christmas” by the late, great George Michael. Grande modernized the track by injecting it with R&B sensibilities and by changing the lyrics of the verses. By changing the verses, Grande set herself apart by not just churning out a replica-style cover. The injections of originality make “Last Christmas” make sense for her lyrically, as a young woman. The newly rewritten verses were also a way for the younger generation to connect to the song, and welcomed them to the music of a pop legend, George Michael.
In preparation for the release of the Christmas Kisses EP, Grande got a slot to perform in the iconic Macy’s Day Parade on November 28, 2013. She appeared in New York City in a cute pale-blue winter coat matched with white gloves and ear muffs that totally got fans in the holiday spirit. Grande performed on a float with a now iconic entourage, Dora the Explorer and friends. It seemed like NBC perhaps took the kids’ TV aspect a little too seriously, but it was a lot of fun.
Despite being matched with Dora, the toddler icon, Ariana Grande’s Thanksgiving Parade performance was the perfect way to anchor her between an established younger audience, and an older crowd. Grande had already begun to legitimize her serious music career with Yours Truly, but her smart move to use her rendition of George Michael’s “Last Christmas” was a great gateway to the more mature ear. The Thanksgiving performance saw Grande welcome new fans whilst embracing the ones she was openly grateful to, resulting in one of the biggest fanbases in recent pop history.
The Macy’s Day Parade performance was relatively early in Ariana Grande’s career, but she was a highly anticipated name among the lineup. Other stars of the day also included Carrie Underwood, Fall Out Boy, and Fifth Harmony. Rather cosmically, the lineup also featured Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda the Good Witch in the Broadway debut run of Wicked.
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Posts By Gaby Shedwick Dec 14, 2024Last year, Ariana Grande returned to her acting roots by playing Glinda in the movie adaptation of Wicked, directed by Jon. M. Chu. Alongside her co-star Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Grande captured the hearts of anyone with a heart in the role. Wicked: For Good hits theaters this weekend, and Grande is sure to continue to astonish the fans she has gained over the years. Whether they came from Nickelodeon, Billboard, or Wicked, they are certain to stay for good.
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