How Ariana Grande Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

How the contributions of Ariana Grande continue to shape the world today.

Ariana Grande-Butera is a highly influential American singer, songwriter, and actress, celebrated for her impressive four-octave vocal range. She is widely recognized as a prominent figure in popular music, with Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Time acknowledging her significant impact and artistic achievements. Time magazine included her in their list of the 100 most influential people in both 2016 and 2019, further solidifying her status as a cultural icon.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

2014: Release of Santa Tell Me

Due to her 2014 song "Santa Tell Me" becoming a 21st-century Christmas standard and having a lasting impact, Grande was dubbed the "Princess of Christmas".

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2015: Grande's acknowledgement of enunciation issues

In 2015, Ariana Grande acknowledged criticisms regarding her enunciation in her earlier recordings, expressing her hope to improve her pronunciation.

2016: Named one of Time's 100 most influential people

In 2016, Ariana Grande was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, recognizing her impact and influence.

2016: Jason Robert Brown's article in Time magazine

In a 2016 Time magazine article, composer and playwright Jason Robert Brown praises Ariana Grande's undeniable vocal talent and its power to overcome obstacles.

2017: Transition from Ingénue to Independent Artist

In 2017, Celia Almeida of the Miami New Times noted that Ariana Grande made the most convincing transition from "ingénue to an independent female artist" among the biggest pop stars of the past 20 years.

February 2019: Most-followed woman on Instagram

From February 2019 to January 2022, Ariana Grande was the most-followed woman on Instagram, highlighting her significant presence and influence on the platform.

2019: Most-streamed female artist on Apple Music in 2019

As of 2019, Ariana Grande was the most-streamed female act on Apple Music and was the first female act to reach 3 billion total streams on the platform.

2019: Named one of Time's 100 most influential people again

In 2019, Ariana Grande was once again named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, solidifying her status as a significant cultural figure.

2020: Refraining from interviews

In 2020, Ariana Grande admitted to refraining from interviews out of fear of being labeled a "diva" and having her words misconstrued.

2020: Most-streamed female artist on Spotify in 2020

In 2020, Ariana Grande became the most-streamed female artist of all time on Spotify, surpassing Rihanna.

2020: "First pop diva of the streaming generation"

In 2020, Bloomberg News named Ariana Grande the "first pop diva of the streaming generation", highlighting her impact on the music industry in the digital age.

December 2021: Deletion of Twitter account

In December 2021, Ariana Grande deleted her Twitter account, citing concerns about misinterpretations and wanting to prioritize her relationship with her fans and her art.

2021: Streaming success in 2021

As of 2021, Ariana Grande had 98 billion streams globally, making her one of the most-streamed artists of all time and the first female artist to surpass 90 billion streams.

2021: "Thank U, Next" Ranked in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs

In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked Ariana Grande's song "Thank U, Next" number 137 in their revision of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, recognizing its cultural impact and significance.

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January 2022: End of Most Followed Era on Instagram

In January 2022, Ariana Grande's reign as the most followed woman on Instagram ended.

2023: Album units and streams in the US

As of 2023, in the US, Grande has moved 22.4 million album units, and garnered over 23.6 billion streams across lead artist credits, according to Luminate.

2023: Ranked among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Ariana Grande at number 43 among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, acknowledging her vocal prowess and influence in music.

May 2024: Katy Perry Declares Grande 'Best Singer of Our Generation'

In May 2024, Katy Perry declared Ariana Grande to be "the best singer of our generation," highlighting Grande's vocal talent and influence.

2024: Milestones on streaming platforms in 2024

In 2024, Ariana Grande became the first artist to have five albums with multiple songs over a billion streams and the first woman with over 123 million monthly listeners on the app.

April 2025: Billboard Hot 100 entries as of April 2025

As of April 2025, Ariana Grande has 96 entries on the Hot 100, and is the fourth female artist with the most Hot 100 entries.

November 2025: Social Media Influence

As of November 2025, Ariana Grande's YouTube channel has over 56 million subscribers, and her Spotify profile has over 106 million followers, making her one of the most influential celebrities on the internet.

2025: Certified Units in the UK

As of 2025, Ariana Grande is one of the best-selling female artists in the UK, with over 36 million certified units.

2025: Second-most-streamed woman on Spotify as of 2025

As of 2025, Ariana Grande is the second-most-streamed woman and the seventh-most-streamed act on Spotify, with over 59 billion streams across all credits.

2025: Ranked in Billboard's Top 100 Women Artists

In 2025, Billboard ranked Ariana Grande at number eight on its list of the "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century", highlighting her contributions and impact in the music industry.