Ariana Grande Remembers Madonna, Beyoncé Support When She Got Famous

Ariana Grande has fond memories of her music heroes supporting her career when she was just getting started. In an interview for Evan Ross Katz’s Shut Up Evan podcast, the pop star and Wicked actress looked back on receiving co-signs from Beyoncé, Mariah Carey — and specifically, Madonna.

“I’m very lucky that my idols have been very kind to me… I remember Madonna immediately was very kind,” Grande told Ross Katz. “I think she was one of the first people to reach out and, like, give me a warm welcome, and it was just really cool. I was overwhelmed by it, because I love her so much.”

Grande and Madonna have built a sweet relationship over the years, with Grande even covering “Vogue” on her Honeymoon Tour in 2015. Grande also performed “Music” with Madonna at Miami’s Raising Malawi event in 2016, and the pop icon later made a voice cameo in the music for “God Is A Woman.”

During a 2017 cover story with Cosmopolitan, Grande shared that she had the “utmost respect” for Madonna. “I love her with every ounce of my being, and not just because of her ability to outlast the blatant bullying and bullshit that she’s had to put up with or because I’m obsessed with her entire discography,” she said at the time. “I’m so inspired by her bravery and her strength. I can look at her and not be scared to be strong.”

During the new interview, Grande also mentioned Carey’s support (the two have sung together several times) and meeting Beyoncé in 2013. “Beyoncé had me come visit a music video she was shooting, and I was just there in the corner,” Grande recounted. “I was like, ‘Why am I here?’ It was after I sang ‘Tattooed Heart’ on the AMAs. She invited me to set to visit her, and she just was being kind — she gave me a little bit of advice, and, you know, I asked, but she was so kind.”

She continued, “I feel like I had people I really looked up to embrace me. It made me feel safe.”