Ariana Grande: How a TV Sidekick Became a World Sensation

Miley Cyrus transitioned from teen TV star to A-list music celebrity seemingly overnight. And while Ariana Grande also got her start as a teen tv star, it took 5 years of releasing music to become a worldwide sensation. So what’s so special about Ariana Grande and how did this TV sidekick become a world sensation?

This week we’re taking a closer look at Ariana’s career and the challenges she’s overcome to become a household name. While she hasn’t made headlines for starting drama, she’s not without her own hardships, like being cast as a Lolita, or her own indiscretions, like blackfishing.

We’re joined by Gabbie Iorio from Young Beautiful Successful podcast to talk about all things Ariana! You can also find her on Instagram and TikTok for more!

Hear more from Gabbie on Young Beautiful Successful and follow her on Instagram and TikTok!

Past Name 3 Songs episodes you should also check out! Like a Virgin: When Pop Stars Become Women and Confessions of a Fangirl: Tales from Hannah Ewens’ Fangirls

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Want to talk more? Find us: @name3songs | @sara_feigin | @jenna_million

Sources for Ariana Grande: How a TV Sidekick Became a World Sensation

Here’s a complete timeline of Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson’s whirlwind engagement and sudden split (Insider, Callie Ahlgrim, 2020)

Ariana Grande Channels ‘Lolita’ on Her ‘Yours Truly’ Album Cover (Zimbio, Alicia Dennis, 2013)

The Horrorcore Sweetness of Ariana Grande (Grantland, Molly Lambert, 2014)

What Went Wrong With… Ariana Grande (& The Ageist Entertainment Industry)? (What Went Wrong With, 2014)

Ariana Grande Debuts Pink Hair, Revives Lolita Look For New MAC Viva Glam Campaign (INQUISITR, Chanel Adams, 2017)

Fan edit of Ariana being asked sexist questions by radio hosts (via Twitter)

Fan edit of Ariana saying she’s not Big Sean’s Ex (via Twitter)

How Ariana Grande Fell Off The Cultural Appropriation Tightrope (The Atlantic, Spencer Kornhabler, 2019) 

Ariana Grande is a blackfish and these are the receipts (The Tab, Diyora Shadijanova, 2019)

The Business of Being Ariana Grande (Allure, Brennan Kilbane, October 2021)

“I don’t eat mcdonalds” Interview with Fairfax Media (via YouTube, 2014)

Billboard Woman of the Year Ariana Grande: ‘There’s Not Much I’m Afraid of Anymore’ (Billboard, Natalie Weiner, 2018)

Ariana’s Tweet about a Mac Miller fan objectifying her (via Twitter, 2016)

Ariana replies to Twitter user who blamed Ariana for Mac Miller’s DUI (Twitter, 2018)

Moments Ariana Grande has been sexually harassed on live TV (PattyPopCulture on TikTok)

Ariana Grande “Positions” Interview with Zach Sang (Zach Sang Show on YouTube, 2020)

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