Ariana Grande’s powerhouse vocals and blockbuster career have made her one of the defining pop stars of the past decade. Yet beyond the chart records, sold-out tours, and award wins, there are plenty of fascinating stories from her life that even longtime fans may not know.
From bizarre childhood experiences to unexpected career milestones, here are 10 lesser-known facts that reveal another side of Ariana Grande.
1. She was hit by flying NHL hockey pucks—twice
Growing up in Florida, Grande regularly attended Florida Panthers games with her family. At just five years old, she was struck on the wrist by a stray puck that flew into the stands. In an unlikely repeat, another puck hit her during a different game a few years later.
The incidents earned her special treatment from the team, including a ride on the Zamboni. By age eight, she returned to perform the U.S. national anthem before a Panthers home game.
2. Her name came from a cartoon princess
Grande’s first name wasn’t randomly chosen. Her parents named her after Princess Oriana, a character from the classic animated series Felix the Cat, giving her an unexpected connection to vintage cartoons long before she entered the entertainment industry.
3. She’s actually allergic to cats
One of the biggest ironies of her career is that she’s severely allergic to cats. Despite being named after a cartoon feline-inspired character and famously portraying Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon, real cats trigger her allergies.
4. Her mother feared she’d become a serial killer
As a child, Grande loved horror movies, Halloween, and movie villains. Her fascination became so intense that her mother, Joan, reportedly worried about how dark her interests were.
For her fifth birthday, Grande insisted on a Jaws-themed party, while she also enjoyed wearing frightening masks around the house.
5. YouTube helped launch her music career
Before becoming a recording artist, Grande uploaded covers of songs by artists including Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Adele while starring on Victorious.
Her rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Emotions” eventually reached executives at Republic Records through a mutual connection, leading to the record deal that launched her pop career.
6. She has a Jim Carrey tattoo
Grande has long described Jim Carrey as her childhood celebrity crush. Years later, the two became friends after she appeared on his television series Kidding.
To honor that admiration, she tattooed the famous closing line from The Truman Show on her shoulder: “In case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.”
7. Her famous “BBQ grill” tattoo mishap
In 2019, Grande attempted to tattoo “7 Rings” in Japanese on her palm. Missing several characters dramatically changed the meaning, with the tattoo instead translating to something closer to “small charcoal grill.”
Although she later worked with her Japanese tutor to correct it, she joked that the revised version still essentially read “BBQ grill finger.”
8. She started a charity group at age 10
Grande’s philanthropic work began years before her music career took off. At only 10 years old, she co-founded the youth singing group Kids Who Care in South Florida.
The organization performed at charity events and reportedly raised more than $500,000 for local causes during its first year.
9. She prefers not to stand out on stage
Unlike many arena headliners who request bright white spotlights, Grande intentionally asked for softer, colorful lighting throughout the Sweetener World Tour.
Her lighting designer later revealed that she wanted to blend into the stage and her dancers because she preferred “to be heard and not seen,” reflecting her self-consciousness as a live performer.
10. She never attended her high school prom
Grande left traditional school after landing roles in Broadway’s 13 and later Nickelodeon’s Victorious. She completed her education with on-set tutors, but the demanding schedule meant missing milestone experiences that many teenagers take for granted—including senior prom.
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