First Nickelodeon, Then the World
2018 has been quite the year for this Dangerous Woman! Ariana Grande has been headlining the news for weeks now, having dropped both her massively successful new album “Sweetener” and her recent fiancé Pete Davidson, as well as publicly dealing with the recent death of her ex-boyfriend, artist Mac Miller, all the while continuing to produce new content like her surprise single “Thank U, Next”. Needless to say, Ariana Grande has made a statement in the industry, so we’re counting down five of the superstar’s career-defining pop culture moments as of 2018 that have made her truly iconic.
#5: Imitating Celebrities Sketch
Ariana would really kill it at a karaoke bar. Invited to host “Saturday Night Live,” Ari brought both the laughter and chills in an endearing performance. She kicked the night off with a joke song listing hoped-for future scandals that might lie in wait for her, but Ariana’s stand-out moment occurred during a later sketch about a music streaming service. When a glitch causes certain channels to drop off the air, Grande is left with no choice but to impersonate the likes of Whitney Houston, Rihanna, and various other vocalists. The results speak for themselves.
#4: “Dangerous Woman†(2016)
Following two chart-topping studio albums, Ariana needed to prove “Truly Yours” and “My Everything” could be surpassed. While the singer’s third studio album fell just short of the Billboard 200’s top spot, Ariana showed that she’d refined and matured her sound to perfection in “Dangerous Woman.” Packed with memorable hooks and empowering but sincere lyrics, “Dangerous Woman” shed any lingering traces of Ariana’s Nickelodeon days and confirmed the pop star was here to stay. Besides serving as an awesome lead single, the title track felt like a statement of intent.
#3: Billboard’s Woman of the Year 2018
Just five years after making her debut and winning “New Artist of the Year” at the “American Music Awards,” Ariana was named “Woman of the Year” by Billboard. Musically, 2018 saw Ariana release a fourth studio album, “Sweetener,” and multiple successful singles; however, Billboard’s award takes into account more than just artistic accomplishments. Willing to stand up for worthwhile causes, Ariana has also been an advocate for mental health awareness and equality. The singer’s voice might be earth-shatteringly powerful, but Ariana’s strength extends far beyond singing.
#2: Wheel of Musical Impressions
Ever dreamed of seeing Ariana Grande do an impression of Christina Aguilera while singing “The Wheels on the Bus?” Even if the answer is no, everyone deserves to bear witness to this stunning moment! Invited to partake in a game of “Wheel of Musical Impressions” by Jimmy Fallon, Ari proved there is nobody beyond the vocalist’s range. Launching with an impeccable rendition of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in the style of Britney Spears, Ariana made impressions seem easy. This segment was such a blast, Fallon staged a similar contest for her more recent appearance in 2018, with the Musical Genre Challenge.
#1: One Love Manchester/Somewhere Over the Rainbow
During her 2017 world tour, Ariana’s Manchester Arena concert ended in tragedy when 22 attendees lost their lives and many more were injured in a suicide bombing attack. Ariana’s response was “One Love Manchesterâ€, a benefit event that the singer organized to raise funds for the victims and their families. Raising over $20 million, the event included guest performances from the likes of Robbie Williams, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber. Showing great strength and courage in the face of such terror, Ariana closed “One Love Manchester” with a powerful rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
If you think we missed any of Ariana Grande’s career-defining moments, make sure to watch the full video of the Top 10 Iconic Ariana Grande Moments here:
And before you say “thank u, next”, make sure to check out the Top 5 References You Missed in Ariana Grande’s God is a Woman Video below!
