Ariana Grande is Billboard’s 2018 Woman of the Year and she is also on the cover of the latest issue. The 25-year-old entertainer spoke with the magazine about finding comfort in creating music, her public romances, recording new music and more.
Read excerpts below.
On finding comfort in creating music:
“I guess there’s not much I’m afraid of anymore….When life tries you with such serious sh*t so many times, your priorities change. I don’t give a sh*t. I just want to be happy and healthy — one day — and make music.”
On refusing to abide by pop-star expectations and continuing to record new music:
“I don’t want to do what people tell me to do, I don’t want to conform to the pop star agenda. I want to do it on my own terms from now on. If I want to tour two albums at once, I’m going to tour two albums at once. If I want to drop the third album while I’m on tour [in 2019], I’ll do that too! Please. [“Thank U, Next” production duo] Social House is my opening act — you don’t think we’re going to have a studio on the bus? That we’re not going to be making records on the road? Of course, we are. I want to be able to do what is authentic and honest and natural. It’s the only way that I’ve been able to survive.”
On getting involved in public romances:
“This is how I meet people — I can’t just, like, meet someone at a bar. I live fast and full-out, and I make mistakes, and I learn from them and I’m grateful no matter what happens.”
