Ariana Grande Finds Peace With Past Hits After "Time and Therapy"

Ariana Grande has revealed that her relationship with her early music has evolved over time, thanks to the power of self-reflection and professional help. In a candid conversation on the latest episode of *Hot Ones*, the pop star discussed the challenges of revisiting songs from her early career, acknowledging a period where she struggled to fully appreciate their significance.

"Of course, that's like a natural thing that all artists can probably relate to," Grande shared, reflecting on the mixed emotions she once felt towards her earlier work. "But seeing [fans'] reaction to it also kind of replaces that... There was a time when it was hard for me to feel that same gratitude that I do now for certain songs and for the music because I think some of it was a stressful time."

Grande, who rose to fame at the tender age of 19, attributed her initial disconnect to the whirlwind nature of her early career. "That experience was sort of married to some of the songs a little bit," she explained, "or some of the songs that are more emotional that the experience that inspired them can be married to the music, for me, for a second."

However, with time and introspection, Grande has come to embrace the nostalgia associated with her discography. "With time and therapy," she confessed, "I've been able to re-embrace the nostalgia of my discography. I feel just really proud and grateful and happy when I hear them. I'm like, 'That's a good song,'" she quipped, adding, "Whereas, I used to, maybe, hear it and cry, so that's a beautiful thing."

Beyond her musical journey, Grande addressed the frustration of music leaks, a common issue faced by artists across the globe. "It's really hard for me because it's really disheartening and disappointing, and it sucks, and I am constantly trying to get to the bottom of how people get stuff," she shared candidly. "Whether it's videos or pictures or audio, songs... so it's conflicting because that is very frustrating and feels very dehumanizing."

Despite the challenges, Grande acknowledged the fervent support of her fanbase. "And then the other side [of me] is like, but I'm so grateful to be an artist that people care about," she continued. "And my fans want more of me, so they're going to these extremes to steal and break in."

"It's so lovely to be loved," she joked. "But yeah, I sit somewhere in between being grateful to be here at all and being like, 'But really? Come on.'"

Currently, Grande is in the midst of promoting the highly anticipated *Wicked

film adaptation, where she stars alongside Cynthia Erivo. The first part of the film is scheduled for release on 22 November 2024, and Grande has been vocal about her admiration for Erivo's performance of "Defying Gravity" in the film, calling it "the most phenomenal thing I've ever seen in my life."

Beyond *Wicked*, Grande remains immersed in the *Eternal Sunshine

era, following the release of her studio album on 8 March. Fans have eagerly anticipated the possibility of a new tour to support the album, and Grande has subtly hinted at the prospect in recent interviews.

On the *Shut Up Evan

podcast, Grande offered a glimpse into her touring plans, stating, "I still want it, too. I think it would be a really lovely idea to be able to trickle in some shows in between the two *Wicked* films. I think there’s a version of that that exists.”