Pop superstar Ariana Grande has shared a rare and poignant reflection on the lasting influence of her late ex-boyfriend, the rapper Mac Miller, in a new interview.
A Heartfelt Podcast Revelation
Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, the two-time Grammy winner made candid remarks about Miller, whose real name was Malcolm McCormick. Grande revealed he was a pivotal figure in encouraging her to shed her Nickelodeon persona and embrace her authentic self. The interview was taped on December 5 at Chapman University's Folino Theater before an audience of 500 film students and published this Tuesday.
"I've never talked about this, but actually Malcom, who you might know as Mac, encouraged me to be myself," Grande confessed. "And that it was okay to shed that character and embrace my brown hair and make R&B-influenced pop music and separate and do the brave thing. I've never said that, but it was a great influence. I'm very thankful for that."
A Partnership That Shaped Her Sound
The pair's professional collaboration dates back to Grande's 2013 debut single, The Way, which featured a rap verse from Miller. Grande explained she enlisted him not only because he was "perfect for the song," but because she felt she owed him thanks for helping her find her musical direction. At the time, Grande was transitioning from her red-haired child star image on shows like Victorious and Sam & Cat into a fully-fledged pop artist.
Miller, the Grammy-nominated rapper from Pittsburgh, tragically died in September 2018 at the age of 26 from an accidental drug overdose at his Studio City home. The overdose involved a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol. His passing occurred just four months after he and Grande ended their two-year romantic relationship, though they had known each other since 2012. Following his death, three of his former drug dealers—Ryan Reavis, Stephen Walter, and Cameron Pettit—received prison sentences.
Grande's Current Projects and Awards Season
Today, Grande's career continues to ascend. She is currently dating her Wicked castmate Ethan Slater and has announced a West End reunion with her on-screen leading man, Jonathan Bailey. The pair will star in a production of Sunday In The Park With George, opening in summer 2027 at London's Barbican Centre.
The Florida-born singer is also in the thick of awards season. Alongside her Defying Gravity duet partner Cynthia Erivo, she is nominated for the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance trophy at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, airing on February 1.
For her role as Galinda 'Glinda' Upland in Wicked, Grande is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role at the newly-renamed 32nd Actor Awards, streaming on Netflix on March 1. She faces stiff competition from the likes of Odessa A'zion, Amy Madigan, Teyana Taylor, and Wunmi Mosaku. Madigan and Taylor have already beaten Grande to the Critics Choice Award and Golden Globe, respectively.
Reflecting on her own experiences of grief and performance, Grande told THR, "I've experienced a lot of grief. I've experienced a lot of loss. And I also know what it feels like to perform through it, as a coping mechanism."
Looking ahead, Grande is scheduled to kick off her 41-date The Eternal Sunshine Tour on June 6 at the Oakland Arena in California. This will mark her fourth arena tour and her first in seven years.
