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Ariana Grande is opening up about one of the most defining moments of her early career, revealing a private memory she says she's "never shared before" about how her late boyfriend Mac Miller helped shape the sound that launched her into global stardom.
Speaking to students during a master class at Chapman University, Grande explained that Miller was the first person who encouraged her to lean into R&B-influenced pop, a direction that ultimately became the blueprint of her debut era Yours Truly.
Grande recalled how Miller pushed her to "do the brave thing" musically, telling her that her voice belonged in a space that blended soulful melodies with pop production.
That advice, she noted, was one of the reasons she asked him to appear on "The Way," the 2013 hit that became a defining moment for both artists. "Not only was he perfect for the song," she told the audience, "but I also felt like I had him to thank for helping me find my sound."
Their bond extended far beyond the studio. Grande and Miller went public with their relationship in 2016, and although they split nearly two years later, the singer has repeatedly described him as someone who deeply shaped her life.
After Miller's death from an accidental overdose in 2018, Grande honored him by preserving his contributions in the remastered Yours Truly visuals and speaking candidly about her grief. In interviews, she has described him as "the kindest soul" and someone who gave everything he had to music, often at the expense of his own well-being.
Reflecting on his legacy, Grande said that Miller's dedication to his craft remains one of the most inspiring things about him. She emphasized that he was the kind of artist who woke up each day driven only by the desire to create, a trait she believes continues to resonate with fans years after his passing.
Grande ended her Chapman University conversation by reminding students that Miller's influence lives on not just in his catalog but in the artists he inspired, herself included.
