Ariana Grande is reflecting on the profound influence the late rapper Mac Miller had on her personal and professional life—especially when it came to embracing her natural hair and stepping away from her Nickelodeon persona.
The 32-year-old singer shared intimate details about her relationship with Miller on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast on January 13. The episode, recorded in December in front of an audience at Chapman University, offered fans a candid look at the artist’s journey from child star to Grammy-winning powerhouse.
Mac Miller Encouraged Ariana to “Be Herself”
Grande revealed that Miller played a pivotal role in helping her transition away from her Nickelodeon image during the Yours Truly era. She shared that Miller encouraged her to embrace her brunette hair and pursue a more R&B-influenced pop sound, saying:
“He told me that it was okay to kind of shed that character and embrace my brown hair and make R&B-influenced pop music and…do the brave thing. I’ve never said that, but it was great influence.”
Grande and Miller went public with their relationship in September 2016, three years after collaborating on her hit single The Way. While their romance eventually ended due to conflicting schedules, Grande has consistently credited Miller with inspiring her creative confidence and authenticity.
Tragically, Miller passed away on September 7, 2018, at age 26 from an apparent overdose. At the time, a representative close to Grande told PEOPLE that his death was “devastating and shocking to her. It’s had a huge, negative impact on her life. It made her rethink many things in her life.”
The Evolution of Ariana’s Hair and Signature Style
During the podcast, Grande also discussed her evolving hairstyles, from the red wig she wore as Cat Valentine on Victorious to her natural brunette look. She explained the logistical challenges of balancing her acting and music careers, including constantly switching her hair color:
“I do remember when, before the red wig entered the chat, when my hair was actually dyed red, there was a time when I was performing on the weekends as Ariana Grande, and I would have to tone my hair brown on Friday night after we wrapped filming. And then late Sunday night, I would have to do a clarifying rinse to try and get the red back for Monday morning to be on set at 6 a.m.”
Grande also addressed her iconic high ponytail, clarifying that it was never a carefully crafted branding strategy. “Since I was a little girl, I always liked my hair out of my face. I always had a headband on or a bun or a ponytail or something,” she said.
More recently, Grande returned to her natural brunette shade after three years of blonde hair while playing Glinda in Wicked. She debuted her darker hair color at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4, signaling yet another era of embracing authenticity and self-expression.
Ariana Grande on Music, Acting, and Personal Growth
Throughout the podcast, Grande reflected on the balance between her music and acting careers, acknowledging that her hair, style, and public persona were all intertwined with her professional responsibilities. Her experience illustrates the challenges many young performers face in navigating public scrutiny while striving to stay true to themselves.
By crediting Mac Miller for inspiring her to embrace her natural hair and musical identity, Grande not only honors his memory but also shares a message of self-acceptance and creative courage with fans worldwide.
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