When Ariana Grande broke out as a defining pop artist in the early 2010s, she already looked up to several established superstars. In a recent appearance on the Shut Up Evan podcast, she described how icons like Madonna and Beyoncé greeted her warmly as her music career began to take off after Victorious.

Grande said she felt fortunate that many of her heroes reached out. She recalled Madonna as one of the first to welcome her — an outreach that left her both surprised and deeply grateful.

Madonna continued to back Grande in various ways over the years, even contributing a voice-over for the singer’s 2018 “God Is a Woman” video. Grande also singled out Mariah Carey as a formative influence and noted that Carey has supported her, leading to several collaborations, including a remix of Grande’s chart-topping single “Yes, And?”

Grande also remembered Beyoncé’s kindness. She recounted being invited to visit a video shoot in 2013 after performing “Tattooed Heart” at the AMAs — a brief, behind-the-scenes encounter where Beyoncé offered advice and made her feel welcome.

Having admired these artists for years, Grande said their encouragement made her feel protected and understood during a whirlwind moment in her career.

More than a decade on, Grande has established herself among the modern music elite: she’s earned multiple Grammys and has achieved several No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.

Yet she revealed that there was a time she considered stepping away from recording. After taking on the role of Glinda in Wicked, she initially thought 2020’s Positions might be her final album and that she wouldn’t return to making records.

Ultimately, acting reshaped her creative outlook. Her work on the Wicked films transformed her relationship with making music and helped inspire 2024’s Eternal Sunshine. Grande is now planning a short tour in 2026 to support the album.

Watch the full interview in the video player above.

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