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Ariana Grande, a Pop Star for the Post-Pop Star Age

Ariana Grande’s sixth album, “Positions,” just debuted at the top of the Billboard album chart.

The 27-year-old musician has taken an unusual and singular route to pop stardom: She was a child TV star, then a big-voiced R&B ingénue before becoming something like a full-spectrum pop aspirant. More recently, she’s been a performer and songwriter who pairs intimacy, casualness and rigorous talent.

On this week’s Popcast, a conversation about Grande’s unique career, how she expands the range of what a contemporary pop star can be, her relationship to R&B and hip-hop, and more.

Guests:

  • Lindsay Zoladz, who writes about music for The New York Times and others

  • Shaad D’Souza, who writes about music for The Fader and others

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