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Ariana Grande's Heart-Pounding, Gory “Petal” Music Video Proves She’s in a New Era
Ariana Grande is pressing pause.
Following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour next month, the Grammy winner will be stepping back from the public eye amid growing concerns about her health.
"Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” Grande’s rep told E! News in a statement Aug. 2. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
The “petal” singer’s 41-stop tour—which began in June in Oakland, Calif., and will end on Sept. 1 in London, England—"has been a beautiful experience for her,” her representative continued. “She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
And every time she hits the stage, the Wicked star gives it her all.
A close source to Grande told E! News that she “performs a very physical show,” and “performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night,” noting that “there is a lot of athleticism involved.”
Additionally, Grande “will no longer be appearing” in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George next summer, in which she would have reunited with her Wicked costar Jonathan Bailey, a source close to Grande confirmed to E! News.
While Grande won’t be starring in the musical, the insider added that she “cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life.”
Two days before news broke of the 33-year-old’s upcoming break from the spotlight, she released her eighth studio album, petal, along with the music video for her single of the same name.
While Grande’s appearance in the music video further fueled ongoing concerns about her well-being, a source close to the “yes, and” singer stated that her album “is a fight song, an anthem about the love-hate relationship with the public and their toxicity.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Indeed, Grande has addressed body-shamers in the past.
"I've been doing this in front of the public, and kind of been a specimen in a petri-dish since I was 16 or 17," she shared during a December 2024 interview with the web series Oui Oui Baguette. "So I have heard it all. I've heard every version of it, of what's wrong with me. And then you fix it, and then it's wrong for different reasons."
“It’s hard to protect yourself from that noise,” she continued at the time, “and I think it's something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you're experiencing it on.”
While Grande's new music centers on her relationship with the public, petal is not about her love life, the insider told E! News, saying, “This album is not about any romantic partner or breakup in that way.”
Yet, Grande—who recently rekindled her romance with Ricky Alvarez following her breakup with Ethan Slater earlier this year—emphasized that she channeled another side of herself while writing the album.
“It pulls from many different parts of myself and yet, at the same time, it is very experimental and different for me,” she said in an Apple Music clip posted on July 29. “I wrote from a place that I don’t usually, which was like an unfiltered rage that I think we all feel sometimes.”
For a closer look at how Grande’s has evolved throughout her career, read on…
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Glam Girl
Ariana Grande dazzled in a salmon pink dress at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. This look made her vibrant red hair pop!
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Darling Diva
The Sam & Cat star stunned in a charming white mini-dress at the 2011 Grammy Awards. She paired her simple, yet striking outfit with sparkly gold heels and dainty jewelry pieces.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Radiant in Red
Ariana shimmered at the 2013 American Music Awards in her red Dolce & Gabbana dress.
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Vintage Vibes
Serving fans retro charm in her custom Kenley Collins dress, the Scream Queens actress looked perfectly polished at the 2013 Style Awards.
Mark Davis/Getty Images
Ray of Sunshine
The "Dangerous Woman" singer made a splash at the 2014 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. Matching the orange carpet, Grande wore a vibrant mini-dress and paired it with white pumps and a whimsical clutch.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Dashing in Black
Ariana oozed with old Hollywood glamour at the 2014 American Music Awards. She opted for a floor-length black lace gown from MT Costello.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS
White-Hot
Wearing a white gown with silver lamé mesh at the 2015 Grammy Awards, Ariana shined as bright as the flashing lights on the red carpet.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Effortlessly Elegant
Beaming in a floral beaded, peplum mini-dress at the 2015 American Music Awards, Ariana stunned in this statement-making piece from Giambattista Valli.
Neil P. Mockford/GC Images
Vision in White
The Grammy winner waved as she arrived at her 2015 KISS FM appearance in a white ensemble, matching heels and hair buns.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Penchant for Pantsuits
Ditching the usual dress at the 2016 American Music Awards, the "Problem" artist opted for a sexy corset top and elegant white pants.
CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images
Oversized Overalls
Ariana rocked a funky fresh outfit at the 2016 Hairspray Live! press junket. She sizzled in oversized overalls, a bralette and a bedazzled choker necklace.
David Becker/Getty Images
Royal Blues
Ariana brought the heat to the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. Her Atelier Versace dress highlighted her playful side with its unique cut-out design and bright colors.
John Shearer/Getty Images
God Is a Woman
Ariana took fans to church with her Sistine Chapel-inspired dress at the 2018 Met Gala. Megan McCluskey designed the gown in keeping with event's theme of "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Cotton Candy Dream
Ariana looked like a cotton candy dream in her pastel pink ensemble at the 2018 iHeartRadio Wango Tango event. Giving us '90s nostalgia, she rocked platinum sneakers, matching ankle socks and an oversized sweater that states, "girls girls girls."
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Billboard
Lavender "Loofah"
The "7 Rings" singer looked regal and elegant in her custom Christian Siriano dress, which she perfectly dubbed the "loofah of the year" lewk. Of course, she tied her outfit together by wearing her signature thigh-high boots.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
SIlver Siren
Not only did the pop star turn heads with two outfit changes at the 2020 Grammys red carpet, but her platinum blonde pony was all anyone could talk about at the time.
Curly Sue
Ariana said thank u, next to her signature high pony by sharing a selfie that showed off her natural curls in 2020.
13 Going on 30
The "Positions" singer channeled Jennifer Garner's 13 Going on 30 character in 2021.
Blonde Beauty
One short day in October 2022, the Wicked actress debuted a dramatic blonde look.
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Wickedly Good
Ariana channeled Glinda the Good Witch in a pink Giambattista Valli gown at the 2024 Oscars.
Gotham/Getty Images
Goddess of the Garden
For the 2024 Met Gala, which had a "Garden of Time" dress code to celebrate the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" exhibit, Ariana wore an ethereal white gown from Loewe featuring a mother of pearl bodice—a nod to her birthstone—and long chiffon skirt.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
An Enchanting Evening
While Ariana had several magical outfits throughout both Wicked press tours, this Custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown she wore to the 2025 Wicked: For Good premiere in New York—made with 200 meters of silk organza and tulle divided into 20 ruffles—was particularly popular.
Arturo Holmes/WireImage
Oscars Ready
In fact, she wore the same designer for her first Academy Award nomination at the 2025 Oscars. She truly shimmered as the pink satin duchess and nude tulle number featured more than 190,000 crystal sequins, rhinestones and beads.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Gorgeous Gown
Daydreamin' of the details for Ariana's dress for the 2026 Golden Globes? The beautiful black dress was a Vivienne Westwood design.
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