Former The Voice coach Ariana Grande didn’t “wait for their love.” Well, most of them at least.
The global pop star sensation has had a wide variety of romantic prospects, ranging from high-profile celebrities to coworkers.
Grande has frequently created art from her pain, love, and resilience through dating — including the classic “Thank U, Next” megahit which quite literally namedrops three of her previous boyfriends.
The “Yes, And?” singer released her highly anticipated album “Eternal Sunshine” in March 2024, which debuted at the top of the Billboard charts. This album, which emerged after delays due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike affecting her film projects, showcased a mix of pop, R&B, and dance influences. Described as introspective and self-reflective, the album resonated with listeners through themes blending confidence with vulnerability. Her ex-husband was a huge inspiration for the lyrical content.
Love is not the only focus of Grande’s life. She’s putting on her movie actress hat starring as “Galinda” in the highly anticipated movie adaptation of “Wicked,” a dream role for Grande. There, she met her current boyfriend, but not without a little controversy. Let’s go down the history of the ponytail pop star’s romantic partners.
Graham Phillips (2008-2011)
GettyGraham Phillips and Grande first met as costars in the Broadway musical “13” and reportedly began dating during their time in the production. Despite moving on from their romantic relationship, the two maintained a friendship. Phillips notably supported Grande during the media frenzy following “Donut Gate,” expressing, “She’s such a sweet girl. It’s tough. We all say things that we regret. I don’t think it speaks to her character at all.”
The breakup must have not been too bad, because they did reunite in 2016 for a “13” cast gathering.
Jai Brooks (2012-2014)
GettyGrande began a relationship with Jai Brooks, a member of the music and comedy group The Janoskians, in August 2012. The couple’s initial romance ended in October 2013, with Brooks publicly accusing Grande of infidelity involving the man next on this list. On X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his feelings, writing, “Yes I was cheated on. Yes it does suck. Yes I was left for another man.” Grande refuted these allegations, responding on social media that Brooks had threatened to damage her reputation if she did not return to him: “Woke up this morning in complete and utter shock … You said to me if I didn’t come back to you, you’d make me look bad to the entire world.” The couple briefly reconciled in May 2014 before ending their relationship permanently in August of that year.
Nathan Sykes (2013)
GettyGrande began dating Nathan Sykes of The Wanted in 2013, coinciding with the release of their duet “Almost Is Never Enough.”
Their relationship gained attention for its timing alongside their musical collaboration. Grande confirmed their breakup in January 2014, attributing it to the challenges of long-distance dating. The relationship seemed to leave little lasting impact on Grande, as Sykes was notably absent from the name-checks in her hit song “Thank U, Next.” People says Sykes felt being excluded from the song was “good.”
Big Sean (2014-2015)
GettyAfter months of speculation, Grande confirmed her relationship with rapper Big Sean in October 2014, describing him as “one of the most amazing men in the whole world.” A source told Us Weekly at the time that their relationship progressed quickly and noted, “They are much happier than in their previous relationships.” Meanwhile, “Glee” star Naya Rivera, who had been engaged to Big Sean until their April 2014 breakup, later claimed in her memoir, “Sorry Not Sorry,” that she found Grande at Sean’s house while they were still together.
GettyDespite the strong start, Grande and Big Sean ended their relationship in April 2015, eight months after making it official. Grande later referenced Sean in her 2018 single, “Thank U, Next,” acknowledging their past while expressing gratitude for her exes with the line: “Thought I’d end up with Sean, But he wasn’t a match.”
Ricky Alvarez (2015-2016)
Ricky and Ariana dated during her aforementioned “Donut Debacle” and got close when he was working as one of her backup dancers. A source told E! News about their split, “She broke up with him. He didn’t cheat or anything. They just found it difficult to make it work. They are still friends though.”
Ricky was the second victim within the chain of lyrics within “Thank U, Next.” “Wrote some songs about Ricky, Now I listen and laugh.” Below is Grande speaking on Ricky’s reaction.
Mac Miller (2016-2018)
GettyThis one hurts. Grande and Mac Miller were in a relationship for two years before separating in May 2018. Following Miller’s untimely death in September 2018, Grande reflected on their relationship in a 2019 interview with Vogue, acknowledging its complexity. She stated, “By no means was what we had perfect. He was the best person ever, and he didn’t deserve the demons he had. I was the glue for such a long time, and I found myself becoming … less and less sticky. The pieces just started to float away.”
GettyThroughout her music, Grande has alluded to their time together, incorporating their story into the lyrics of “Ghostin” and at the very beginning of her “Eternal Sunshine” title track. Ariana has said that she will never sing “Ghostin” live due to it being far too emotional for her.
Pete Davidson (2018)
GettyGrande and “Saturday Night Live“ star Pete Davidson began a relationship in 2018 following their respective breakups from Cazzie David and Miller. Davidson publicly confirmed their relationship on Instagram in May, sharing a playful photo of them in Harry Potter costumes. By June, Us Weekly revealed their engagement, marked by a $93,000 diamond ring. The couple embraced their romance with high-profile displays, including adopting a pet pig and moving into a luxury New York City condo.
GettyHowever, by October 2018, Grande and Davidson had ended their engagement. A source told Us Weekly that they recognized the relationship had progressed too quickly. Addressing their split on “Saturday Night Live,” Davidson expressed respect for Grande, calling her “wonderful” and wishing her happiness. Grande reflected on their time together in her song “Thank U, Next,” expressing gratitude for their relationship.
Mikey Foster (2018-2020)
GettySocial House‘s Mikey Foster is next on the list after a rather direct collaboration released between the two called “Boyfriend.” The couple had been friends for a few years, and Foster even co-produced some of her hits like “Thank U, Next” and “7 Rings.” Social House also opened for her during the Dangerous Woman tour. They separated in 2020, a source told Us Weekly.
Dalton Gomez (2020-2023)
Grande and Dalton Gomez began dating and later married during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them several years of private life together. Initially, their relationship thrived, but by July 2023 they had separated, with People attributing the split largely to distance, as Grande had been in England filming “Wicked.” The couple officially filed for divorce on September 18, 2023.
Ethan Slater (2023)
GettyTMZ reported that Grande began dating her “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater shortly after her separation from Dalton Gomez became public. Us Weekly noted that the two started seeing each other after Slater ended his marriage to Lilly Jay and Grande’s split from Gomez. A source explained, “Ariana and Ethan are dating. However, things are fairly new,” adding that they began their relationship after resolving their previous commitments and were enjoying each other’s company.
GettyFans speculated that Grande referenced their relationship in songs from her album “Eternal Sunshine.” In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Grande discussed navigating her “hovering dread” during this period and emphasized her focus on living in the moment, stating, “I try to stay present … and focus on the present.”
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Everyone Ariana Grande Has Dated