9781422273289

Adam Levine

Ariana Grande

Ed Sheeran

Shawn Mendes

Taylor Swift

Ariana

Grande

Greg Bach

Mason Crest Philadelphia • Miami

Mason Crest PO Box 221876 Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2022 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4481-4 ISBN (series) 978-1-4222-4480-7 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222-7328-9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Bach, Greg, author. Title: Ariana Grande / Greg Bach. Description: Hollywood: Mason Crest, 2022. | Series: Pop music stars | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2019053155 | ISBN 9781422244814 (hardback) | ISBN 9781422273289 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Grande, Ariana–Juvenile literature. | Singers–United States–Biography–Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC ML3930.G724 B33 2020 | DDC 782.42164092 [B]–dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019053155 Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Editor: Andrew Luke Production: Crafted Content, LLC

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WORDS TO UNDERSTAND: These words, with their easy-to-understand definitions, will increase readers’ understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. SIDEBARS: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing themwith additional educational content to supplement the text. TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. RESEARCH PROJECTS: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. SERIES GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series.Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field. Contents BREAKTHROUGH ������������������������������������������������������������������ 6 CHAPTER 1: A STAR IS BORN �����������������������������������������������������11 CHAPTER 2: GREATEST MOMENTS ������������������������������������������������25 CHAPTER 3: BEHIND THE CURTAIN ���������������������������������������������39 CHAPTER 4: BRAND ARIANA GRANDE ������������������������������������������� 51 CHAPTER 5: MODERN MEGASTAR ������������������������������������������������65 SERIES GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS ���������������������������������������������76 FURTHER READING ����������������������������������������������������������������77 INTERNET RESOURCES ������������������������������������������������������������77 INDEX �������������������������������������������������������������������������������78 AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY, PHOTO CREDITS & EDUCATIONAL VIDEO LINKS ������80 Key Icons to Look For

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breakthrough

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breakthrough

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND fathom —to penetrate and come to understand knack —a special ready capacity to do something that is hard to analyze or teach naïve —showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment score —the music for a movie or theatrical production

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ARIANA GRANDE

CHAPTER 1

A STAR

IS BORN

MUSICAL MARVEL Ever since the release of “TheWay,” Ariana Grande has been on a chart- topping spree, flexing her vocal muscles for the world to savor. The whirlwind of top-selling albums and must-see concerts shows no hint of slowing anytime soon. In 2018–2019, she pulled off the unthinkable: releasing two No. 1 albums— Sweetener and Thank U, Next —within the hard-to- fathom span of just six months. Plus, she embarked on her fourth tour—the Sweetener WorldTour—that played throughout the United States, went to Europe for a couple of months, and then announced another set of U.S. dates to close out 2019. Along the way, Grande also swung by Indio, California, to headline Coachella, becoming the youngest to do so in the storied history of this annual arts and music festival that attracts a quarter of a million people. A true musical marvel, the notes Grande hits and somehow maintains are stunning. Her stage presence—from her signature high ponytail to her bold fashion and captivating choreography—is spectacular. Oozing charisma, and willing to bare her soul on stage, Grande possesses that rare ability to connect with fans and audiences across the globe. With more than 300 million followers on Instagram andTwitter combined, Grande is one of the most followed entertainers in the world. She was

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a star is born

Ariana Grande does Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2018.

number 17 on Forbes ’ 2020 list of highest-paid celebrities, ahead of Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones, Jonas Brothers and DJ Khaled, among others. Grande has also stockpiled a slew of impressive awards through the years, including Top Female Artist at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, on her way to becoming one of the greatest entertainers on the planet. JOURNEY TO GREATNESS Grande’s trek to stardom began in South Florida where it was apparent early on that she was a gifted singer. At age eight she wowed the crowd by singing the national anthem at a Florida Panthers hockey game—and she pulled this off without ever having any formal training. Grande then showed off her knack for the stage by performing in local productions of Annie , TheWizard of Oz , and Beauty and the Beast . Her mom, Joan, put together a small children’s troupe called “KidsWho Care,” and Grande and her good friend Aaron Simon Gross were part of the small group that entertained with their singing at holiday parties, fundraisers, and various events throughout the area.

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ARIANA GRANDE

Grande is one of the most popular entertainers in the world, followed by more than 300 million fans on her social media accounts.

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a star is born

A teenaged Grande made a name for herself as a children’s show actress in Los Angeles before she made her mark as a singer.

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When tryouts were held in NewYork for the Broadway musical 13, Grande and Gross were among the thousands of teens who auditioned for coveted roles. Both were impressive in the pressure-packed tryouts and earned spots in the cast that set in motion their stage careers. Fifteen-year-old Grande had the role of Charlotte, a popular cheerleader. When Grande talks about her experience doing 13, she credits Jason Robert Brown, who wrote the score , for pushing her to her vocal limits which helped her develop the amazing range in her voice that she possesses today. The show closed on January 4, 2009, after 105 official performances, and Grande picked up a NationalYouthTheatre Association Award for her performance. LOVING LOS ANGELES The exposure on Broadway, coupled with the experience Grande gained from all those hours delivering lines and vocals in front of large audiences, soon led to a huge opportunity that catapulted her into the bright lights of television stardom. A big fan of Nickelodeon programs growing up, Grande was thrilled to learn that auditions were being held for a new show in the works. So she flew to Los Angeles, wowed the producers, and snagged the role of Cat Valentine on the show Victorious . When the show began production late in 2009, Grande found herself working on one of the most famous strips of roadway in the world—Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. That’s where the Nickelodeon set was—6230 Sunset Blvd. to be exact—while to the west sat the glamorous Chateau Marmont Hotel and famous Viper Room nightclub and to the east was United Recording Studios. Grande was immersed in the heart of Hollywood, and her career would soon capture the spotlight. Victorious revolved around the adventures of a group of teenagers who attended a high school for talented kids in various fields of the performing arts. The sixteen-year-old Grande, who had to dye her hair red for her role because the executive producer didn’t want all the cast members to be brunettes, played the part of a sweet and naïve teen who was a bit of an airhead but who was always trying to help others. The schedule was intense: scripts were handed out to cast members on Sunday evenings, they rehearsed lines on Mondays andTuesdays, and the following three days

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a star is born

were devoted to filming the episode. And then the cycle started all over again. The cast was talented, Grande was terrific, and the show developed a huge following. Victorious ran for three seasons and earned four Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Children’s Program. It would also win Favorite TV Show at the 2012 and 2013 Kids’ Choice Awards. Grande won Favorite Television Actress at the HollywoodTeenTV Awards in 2012 and was gaining fans internationally through the show, too. Victorious was nominated for a bunch of international awards, and Grande earned a nomination in 2013 for Aussie’s Fave Nick Star at the Australian Kids’ Choice Awards. VOCALS WITH VETRO After production finished on that first season of Victorious, music began tugging at Grande’s heart. She had already been busy behind the scenes working on her debut album, and she ramped up her efforts by enlisting

Grande, (far R) seen here with her cast mates, starred on Nickelodeon’s Victorious for three seasons.

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