Role of a Performer: Ariana Grande

A performer that has explored every sense of the title is Ariana Grande. I am not very familiar with her musical career beyond a couple of radio popular songs, but her presence in pop culture has made her an icon for my generation. While I am not invested in her musical career, I love her contributions to drama and comedy through her acting roles and comedic performances. 

Biography

    Grande began her rise to stardom when Nickelodeon recruited her, based on her performance on Broadway in 13, at the age of 16 (Caruso). She played the beloved role of Cat Valentine, earning enough notoriety that she was given a leading role in a spin off series centered on her character titled Sam & Cat. Upon ending her time with Nickelodeon, she sought to use her momentum from acting to focus on her music career. Her first album, Yours Truly (2013), even managed to reach number one on Billboard top 200 which indicated the beginning of a successful music career (Tikkanen). During this time, she won over the hearts and minds of millions of new fans with her genuine personality and overall positive media presence. She garnered respect through her many interviews and performances on reputable television programs, most notably SNL. In 2016 she made her first appearance on the show as a guest for one of their skits where she demonstrated her gift for impersonations (Caruso). Beloved by viewers for decades, the show gave her an outlet that allowed her to reach millions of new consumers. She became more than a catchy tune on the radio, she became a bona fide celebrity. This wave of influence helped her to land roles in recent movies, most notably a leading role in the musical turned film phenomenon, Wicked (Tikkanen). Her biggest role yet, this marked the point in her career where she had officially made herself into a sensation. The promotion for Wicked has plastered her face everywhere, spurred on by her incredible performance.

The Role of Ariana Grande

    What had captivated the audience about Cat Valentine was the contrast of the character’s lack of intellectual abilities that tended to overshadow the sheer talent that the character possessed. Grande's performance took this ditsy, shallow character and honed the genuine innocence of the character into a quiet strength that was evident by the character’s resiliency and subtle impact. One of the most prominent ways she did this was through her character’s musical performances, which were prevalent as the characters in the show attended an elite musical arts high school. One such example was in the performance of "Give it Up" written by Dan Schneider, Michael Corcoran, and Cj Abraham and performed on Victorious by Grande and Elizabeth Gillies.

    Grande's character had initially been fluttery and set low expectations with the generally absentminded behavior demonstrated through the initial giddiness of the character to perform. Cat was eager to take the stage and proudly announced the song choice and embraced the DJ's commentary with oblivious responses of her own before Jade West (Elizabeth Gillies) cut the interaction short. Throughout the song, the character’s movements intentionally juxtapose each other as Jade delivers deliberate moves accompanied by an overall detachment from the work itself as the character was defined by socially demonstrated acts of apathy. In contrast, Cat continues to express herself with less calculated, unserious actions that demonstrated the character’s overall innocence. However, this impression is quickly replaced when Grande allows her natural talent to take center stage, and the character’s flippant persona is usurped as this foundation of frivolity is crafted into passion for the art of performance which allows Cat to capture the audience's attention. Grande asserts power and presence with her vocals and the viewers are enraptured by this under dog's performance, as the crowd in the clip rises for a standing ovation. While the crowd is scripted, this moment is still impactful as it exemplifies why this character should not be underestimated. The emotionality and overall authority in Grande's voice won over viewers early on, allowing for the character arc that would develop the idea for Sam & Cat. Grande became a staple of Nickelodeon by delivering such an exemplary performance, and it created a basis for her to go on to be a household name.

    Grande’s dramatic flair and knack for comedy made her a hit in interviews as she left Nickelodeon to pursue her musical career. It set new standards for the potential of child actors as Grande began to sell out concerts and earn music awards, but her passion for acting remained. She made an impact on Saturday Night Live, appearing host and performer, who has since made many memorable cameo appearances featuring her impressions and engaging personality. 

    This clip demonstrates her wide variety of impressions, which she has since brought back to the show several times. Grande's impersonations are a direct example of her talent, and her passion for the art of performance. Each impersonation mimics, not only the vocal characteristics of her chosen muse, but their general posturing and recurring gesticulation. She delves into the emotions of her subjects, understanding the intention behind each inflection that they include in their music, so that she can extend that into her impressions and mimic their experiences through her portrayal of them. This takes a great deal of understanding and vocal control to take their message and re-edify it through her performance. She was able to redefine herself by fully demonstrating her interpretive musicianship. This level of commitment set her apart, and Grande was able to reestablish herself through performances like these where she extended her fan base. 

Prior to her Saturday Night Live performances, she was primarily popular with children and young adults who Nickelodeon had geared their media towards, but Saturday Night Live is consumed by multiple generations and demographics, so it exponentially increased her outreach. She demonstrated this by returning to acting, but this time she aligned herself with larger roles and A-List actors. She portrayed Riley Bina in the film Don’t Look Up alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, and several other well known actors, but what provides a true measure of just how far she has come is her leading role as Glinda the Good Witch in the live action movie adaptation of Wicked. Since the release of the film she has performed the show live for several audiences where the release was being celebrated, as demonstrated by this clip from NBC.

Her performance of “No One Mourns the Wicked” (2025) demonstrates her development in performance through the way that she engages a live audience through her character. Early on she performed on Broadway in plays, but this kind of live performance is vastly different from anything else she has done since. This requires her to engage an audience with content that she did not create. This means that she has to play a role, like she did while acting, and she has to display authenticity (like from her concerts when she toured her albums). This requires an in-depth understanding of her role, and a deeper understanding of how to work an audience. Her movements embody the grace and dignity of the character, but she conveys the pain and endurance of the character through her tone. This allows her to deliver such a moving performance that seems so intimate even amongst the large crowd. This is the epitome of performance because Grande demonstrates unbridled commitment to the role and the engagement of the audience, hence why Grande has earned such a respectable reputation as a performer.

My Opinion is that Ariana Grande is one of the biggest stars of our generation for her exceptional performance skills. Her vocal talents, acting skills, and genuine knack for comedy make her a well rounded example of what earning success looks like. I may not consider myself a dedicated fan, but I have a great amount of respect for what she has accomplished because she put in the work to make it happen.

Works Cited

“Ariana Grande 2016 Vocal Impressions Rihanna,Britney Spears,Shakira HD.” Www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGtm_HpTlKw. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

Caruso, Catherine. “Ariana Grande - Songs, Age & Facts.” Biography, 17 May 2021, https://www.biography.com/musicians/ariana-grande. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

DanWarp. “Ariana Grande and Liz Gillies Sing “Give It Up!” | “Victorious” | “Freak the Freak Out.”” YouTube, 3 Apr. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwLRDMQYh9M. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

NBC. “Sneak Peek: Ariana Grande Performs “No One Mourns the Wicked” | Wicked: One Wonderful Night | NBC.” YouTube, 6 Nov. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BM0KzD8rLM. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

Tikkanen, Amy. “Ariana Grande | Biography, Songs, 7 Rings, Albums, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Mar. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ariana-Grande. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.