Ariana Grande Reflects on Her Lost Years in Pop Stardom

The singer opens up about memory gaps, her unexpected rise to fame, and her deep-rooted love for theater.

The singer opens up about memory gaps, her unexpected rise to fame, and her deep-rooted love for theater.

Ariana Grande is getting candid about the whirlwind of her early stardom and the years that seem to have slipped away.

During a recent appearance on the SmartLess podcast, the 31-year-old pop star revealed that she has trouble recalling certain moments from her early career. The topic arose when host Will Arnett brought up a past interview they did together on the U.K. talk show Chatty Man about a decade ago. Grande, however, had no recollection of it.

“I’m missing a couple of years,” she admitted. “I’m super serious from that time. I’m literally missing a few years.”

Arnett, 54, jokingly called her memory lapse “disgraceful” before reassuring her, “No, you were great.”

The Unexpected Rise to Pop Stardom

Grande, who launched her career as a Broadway performer before stepping into the pop world, reflected on the intensity of her early fame.

“I just never expected it to kind of take over the way that it sort of did, in a beautiful way,” she said of her debut album, Yours Truly, which was released when she was just 19. “I just think that there was no way to prepare for that.”

Despite her chart-topping success, she admitted that her initial aspirations were rooted in theater.

“I am a theater nerd through and through,” Grande shared. “And, you know, this very insane journey with music kind of took over my life for a very long time. It was extraordinary but very challenging.”

Grande recalled how, after starring in 13: The Musical on Broadway, she envisioned a career behind the scenes rather than in the pop spotlight.

“It was just crazy because, when I was younger, especially after doing 13 on Broadway, I was kind of like, ‘How cool? I get to be a part of the theater community. I can’t wait to be the understudy for the Thoroughly Modern Millie revival and maybe be in the ensemble on the days when I’m not being the swing.’”

At the time, she imagined music would simply be a side project.

“And then I’ll do music on the side, and hopefully, someone will listen to it, and that can be like a little side thing. And hopefully, someone will be into it,” she recalled.

Bonding Over Hairspray Live! and Love for Ethan Slater

Elsewhere in the interview, Grande bonded with SmartLess co-host Sean Hayes over their mutual friend Ethan Slater, whom she is currently dating.

The two reminisced about their time working together on Hairspray Live! in 2016, where they shared a hair and makeup trailer.

Hayes, 54, gave Slater a special shoutout. “He’s a very good friend of mine,” he said.

Grande responded warmly, “Yes, he loves you so much.”

Hayes continued, “I love him too. Ethan Slater. He’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet in your life. He did Good Night, Oscar with me in Chicago. And then he was on Wicked and now you guys are dating, and I love that because you guys make a perfect couple.”

Looking Ahead

Grande, who recently teased a deeper connection to her upcoming album Eternal Sunshine, hinted that there’s more to come. “I have an attachment to Eternal Sunshine that will come out eventually,” she said.

As she reflects on the years lost to the rapid pace of pop stardom, Grande appears to be embracing a new chapter—one that merges her love of music, theater, and personal growth in ways she never anticipated.