Look, I get it. You’ve seen the high ponytail a million times. You’ve heard the "yuh" ad-libs on the radio while you’re stuck in traffic. Maybe you’ve even dismissed her as just another manufactured pop princess who came off a Nickelodeon set and got lucky with a few catchy hooks.
But honestly? If you’re still sleeping on her in 2026, you’re missing out on one of the most technically gifted and weirdly resilient artists of our time.
Whether it's the vocal acrobatics that make professional coaches lose their minds or the way her makeup brand, r.e.m. beauty, actually holds up under a 12-hour shift, there’s a lot more under the hood than just "7 Rings." Let’s get into why it’s actually worth your time to dive back into the world of Ariana Grande, especially now that she’s hitting this weird, experimental "Glinda-meets-R&B" era.
The Vocals Are Actually Humanly Impossible
Most pop stars rely on layers of autotune and "vibes" to get through a track. Ariana is different. We’re talking about a four-octave range. To put that in perspective, most of us struggle to hit the high notes in a Happy Birthday song without our voices cracking like a dry branch.
She’s a "light lyric soprano," which basically means her voice is naturally bright and nimble. But the technical mastery she showed during her preparation for the Wicked movies—where she had to retrain her entire vocal placement to move from pop belts to operatic "coloratura" sounds—is wild. She didn't just "try" to sing like Glinda; she spent months with vocal coaches like Eric Vetro to ensure she wasn't just faking a theatrical accent.
Why the Technique Matters to You
If you listen to her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine, you can hear the difference. The "whistle notes" are still there, sure, but there’s a new kind of control. She uses "vocal placement" (shifting the sound toward the front of the face) to protect her cords. It’s the reason she can perform 97 shows on a world tour without her voice blowing out, even after a vocal cord hemorrhage earlier in her career.
When you listen to a track like "we can't be friends (wait for your love)," you aren't just hearing a pop song. You’re hearing a masterclass in breath control and "melisma"—those little runs where she hits five notes on a single syllable. It’s impressive even if you don’t like the genre.
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Why Try Ariana Grande’s Makeup? (It’s Not Just a Cash Grab)
We’ve all been burned by celebrity makeup brands. It usually feels like someone just slapped a famous name on a cheap factory formula from overseas. But r.e.m. beauty is kinda different.
Ariana has been pretty vocal about being "hands-on" with the development. She didn't want the packaging to look like standard makeup; she wanted it to look like props from Star Trek or Black Mirror. It’s a bit "space-age chic," which might feel a little gimmicky at first glance, but the products actually perform.
- The Cooling Blurring Undereye Balm: This thing is basically a nap in a jar. It’s a matte, silicone-like texture that turns into a hydrating gel when it hits your skin.
- Midnight Shadows Liquid Eyeshadow: If you want that "wet" look on your lids without the creases, "Fembot" is a cult favorite for a reason.
- The Wicked Collab: Her 2025/2026 collab for the Wicked films introduced pH-adaptive lip oils that actually stain your lips a natural-looking pink rather than that weird neon purple some brands produce.
It’s not perfect—some users have complained that the eyeliners can smudge if you have oily lids—but for a "clean" beauty brand that’s vegan and cruelty-free, it’s surprisingly high-performance.
The Emotional Arc of a Survivor
People love a comeback story, but Ariana’s story is more about persistence. Think about what this woman has navigated in the public eye:
- The Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
- The loss of her close friend and ex, Mac Miller.
- A very public, very messy broken engagement.
- Relentless commentary on her body and voice changes.
Instead of disappearing, she processed all of that through her music. Sweetener was about finding light after trauma. Thank U, Next was about self-reliance. Eternal Sunshine is about the "bittersweet" reality of moving on.
She’s human. She’s messy. She sometimes talks in a different voice because she’s trying to preserve her vocal cords for a role. She’s famously deleted her Twitter (now X) and pulled back from the "relatable influencer" trope to focus on actual artistry. In an age where everyone is trying to be "authentic" by oversharing, her choice to be slightly mysterious while letting the music do the talking feels refreshing.
What’s Happening in 2026?
If you’re wondering why everyone is talking about her again, it’s because 2026 is officially the year of her return to the stage. After a six-year hiatus from touring to film Wicked and Wicked: For Good, she’s embarking on the Eternal Sunshine Tour.
She’s called it her "one last hurrah" for a while. She’s leaning more into acting—look for her in Meet the Parents 4: Focker-In-Law and season 13 of American Horror Story. But those 2026 live shows are expected to be different. She’s mentioned wanting smaller, more intimate venues where the focus is on the singing rather than the pyrotechnics.
Actionable Ways to "Try" Ariana Grande Right Now
If you want to see if the hype is real without committing to a $300 concert ticket, here is how to actually dive in:
- The "Listen" Test: Put on the song "Imperfect for You." It’s not a radio hit. It’s a weird, alt-pop track with strange timing and incredible harmonies. If you don't "get" her after that, she’s probably just not for you.
- The "Product" Test: Grab the r.e.m. beauty Eclipse Cheek & Lip Stick. It’s a multi-functional cream product that is basically foolproof. Even if you hate "celeb brands," the pigment payoff is objectively good.
- The "Visual" Test: Watch her Live from London Vevo performances. No backing tracks, no dancers, just her and a mic. It’s the easiest way to see the "technical mastery" people keep talking about.
The reality is that Ariana Grande has moved past the stage of her career where she needs to prove she can sing. She’s now in a phase where she’s just doing what she wants—whether that’s playing a blonde witch on screen or releasing disco-infused R&B. You don't have to be a "stan" to appreciate that she’s one of the few people left in pop music who actually puts in the work.
Check out her latest live recordings from the 2026 Critics Choice Awards to see how her "Glinda" training has permanently altered her vocal power. It's a shift that most pop stars wouldn't dare to try, let alone pull off.