Ariana Grande is one of the most popular and influential pop stars in recent history. She first rose to fame on the Nickelodeon TV show Victorious, showcasing her incredible vocal range even as a teenager. Since then, Grande has released multiple hit albums, with record-breaking singles like “Thank U, Next” and “7 Rings.” She’s known for her wide vocal range, R&B-infused pop songs, and signature ponytail.
Grande has won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for Sweetener in 2019. She continues breaking chart records, recently becoming the first artist to hold the top 3 spots on the Billboard Hot 100. As one of the world’s best-selling music artists, Grande has clearly established herself as a force in pop music.
Beyond her music, Grande is admired for her philanthropy supporting children and women’s rights. She has been open about dealing with trauma like the Manchester bombing at her 2017 concert. Grande connects deeply with fans through confessional lyrics about relationships, self-love, and healing.
Ariana’s Catholic Upbringing
Ariana Grande was born in Boca Raton, Florida to Roman Catholic parents. She was raised in the Catholic faith and attended Catholic school in her youth. Ariana has talked about growing up going to mass and celebrating religious holidays like Christmas and Easter with her family. Her parents emphasized the values of kindness, generosity and helping others which align with Catholic teachings.
As a child, Ariana sang in the choir at her local Catholic church and participated in musicals put on by her Catholic school. She credits this with sparking her interest in performing. While Catholicism was an integral part of her upbringing, as Ariana grew older she began questioning aspects of the faith and exploring other spiritual beliefs. Nonetheless, the morals and values instilled in her during her Catholic upbringing continue to influence her life and music today.
Questioning Her Faith
Ariana Grande began questioning her Catholic faith as a teenager. Growing up, she attended Catholic school and church every Sunday with her family.
However, as she got older, she started having doubts about some of the church’s teachings, particularly their views on homosexuality. This caused her to begin exploring her spirituality outside of the confines of Catholicism.
Kabbalah Influences
Ariana Grande developed an interest in Kabbalah in her early 20s after leaving the Catholic Church. Kabbalah is an ancient wisdom tradition stemming from Judaism that focuses on the mystical interpretation of the Torah and connection to the divine. According to Us Magazine, Grande turned to studying Kabbalah’s teachings after the Catholic Church rejected her brother Frankie for being gay.
Kabbalah centers around ten sefirot, or emanations through which the divine reveals itself in the material world. Grande has said that the practice helped her connect deeper spiritually. She was often seen wearing the red string Kabbalah bracelet, especially earlier on in her career, and has incorporated Kabbalah symbolism in her music videos. While Grande no longer seems to actively practice Kabbalah, it appears that it provided an initial gateway for her exploration into spirituality outside of the Catholic faith.
Buddhism and Meditation
Ariana Grande has spoken openly about her interest in Buddhism and meditation practices. In an interview, she shared that she discovered meditation through her grandfather, who practiced Buddhism. “I’ve been meditating for a long time, but I didn’t really know what it was,” she said. “My grandpa was into all these Buddhist philosophies.”
Grande has found meditation to be a calming influence in her busy life. “It helps me to feel grounded,” she told. “I started doing it because I had such bad anxiety. I was meditating to try to relieve that. It worked like a charm.” She tries to meditate for at least 20 minutes a day using mantras or controlled breathing.
The pop star has created meditation playlists on InsightTimer and often recommends meditation to her fans on social media as a practice that brings her joy. Her interest in Buddhism has clearly influenced her worldview and approach to life.
Veganism
Ariana Grande adopted a vegan diet in 2013, initially as a way to maintain her health while touring and performing. However, after educating herself on the ethical reasons behind veganism, such as reducing animal suffering, Ariana decided to stick with the diet for spiritual reasons as well.
She has said going vegan was “the best decision I’ve ever made in my life” and that she felt physically and mentally better after making the switch. Though she occasionally includes honey in her diet, Ariana remains committed to avoiding all other animal products for ethical and spiritual motivations. Her vegan diet reflects her desire to live kindly and reduce harm.
Grounding in Spirituality
While Grande was raised Catholic and briefly explored Kabbalah, she seems to value spirituality more than organized religion these days. Though she believes in God, she focuses more on being generally spiritual, meditating, and watching her intentions.
Grande has said “I believe in spirituality, creativity, mindfulness and being open-minded”. She seems to find more meaning in a general sense of spirituality rather than following the doctrine of a specific organized religion.
Belief in God
Despite not identifying with a specific religion, Ariana has maintained her belief in God throughout her life. In an interview, she stated “I believe in God and the universe and I don’t feel like I’m supposed to endorse a specific religion.” This aligns with her upbringing in a Catholic household and attending Catholic school, where God was central to her early understanding of faith.
Even after exploring other spiritual practices like Kabbalah and Buddhism, Ariana credits God as her “main source of strength” and says she talks to God every day. She believes God guided her through difficult times following the Manchester bombing at her concert in 2017. While she doesn’t conform to organized religion, Ariana’s unwavering faith in God remains an integral part of her spirituality.
Using Her Platform
Ariana Grande has used her fame and platform to promote spirituality, well-being, and empowerment. She often shares messages about self-love, healing, and being true to oneself. Though she was raised Catholic, Grande has embraced spirituality more broadly, drawing from Kabbalah, Buddhism, and other faiths. She frequently posts about the importance of meditation, being present, and letting go of negativity.
Grande uses her songs, music videos, and social media presence to promote themes of female empowerment and confidence. Even when discussing relationships in her music, she emphasizes self-worth and independence. Overall, Grande aims to spread a message of spirituality, self-love, and wellness to her wide fanbase.
Conclusion
Ariana Grande has openly questioned organized religion and traditional doctrines throughout her career. However, she seems to have formed her own personal belief system that incorporates aspects of multiple faiths and practices.
At her core, Ariana believes in the presence of God and the power of prayer. She finds grounding through meditation and mindfulness. Her veganism connects her to principles of nonviolence and compassion. Though she no longer strictly adheres to Catholicism, she continues to be inspired by Kabbalah.
For Ariana, it’s less about rigidly following the rules and rituals of an established religion. Her faith seems more fluid and open, allowing her to discover spiritual wisdom wherever it may originate. She maintains a strong sense of hope and optimism by focusing on the universal values shared across traditions – things like love, kindness, and finding inner peace.
Her fans connect with her willingness to ask questions and evolve her beliefs. Ariana shows that you can move beyond the faith you were raised in and still have a meaningful spirituality. By sharing her personal journey, she encourages others to find their own truth in the vast landscape of beliefs and practices. For Ariana Grande, faith goes beyond any one religion or creed – it is a lifelong process of growth and understanding.
