Ariana Grande is undeniably one of the most influential pop artists of our generation. Whether you love her or not, it’s impossible to deny her vocal talent and the innovative creativity she’s shown throughout her career. As someone who has been an Arianator for most of my life, I feel incredibly passionate about her albums and artistry. I’ve listened to her entire discography thousands of times, and I never get tired of it. Here’s my ranking of all of Ariana’s albums, from favourite to least favourite (though, honestly, there isn’t really a “least favourite”).
1. Positions
Positions is my favourite Ariana Grande album to date. This album gets played constantly and has been a top contender on my Spotify Wrapped every year since its release in 2020. Standout tracks include “pov”, “obvious”, “six thirty”, and “my hair”. While these are my personal favourites, I honestly believe there isn’t a single skip on the album. Every song feels unique and fresh. The deluxe edition only adds to the magic, with songs like “test drive”, “main thing”, and “worst behavior”.
When it first dropped, Positions didn’t get the reception it deserved, but real fans understood its brilliance from the very first listen. It’s unfortunate that Ariana didn’t release more music videos and visuals for the album because she believed people didn’t like it. Positions is an album for fans who love R&B, packed with intricate riffs and vocal runs. With its autumnal vibe, it’s the perfect album to listen to during the cooler months.
2. My Everything
Just like its title, My Everything truly is my everything. Despite having some of Ariana’s biggest hits, this album remains one of her most underrated. The B-sides are full of hidden gems—tracks like “Break Your Heart Right Back”, “Hands on Me”, “Only 1”, and “Cadillac Song” are all incredibly catchy and fun to sing along with, yet many people have never heard them. And don’t even get me started on “Just a Little Bit of Your Heart”—did you know Harry Styles wrote it? Yet so many people still don’t realise this.
The first time I heard these songs live was at Ariana’s Honeymoon Tour at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans in 2015, which remains one of the most special concerts I’ve ever attended. It’s hard to believe it was nearly a decade ago.
3. Yours Truly
Yours Truly is another underrated gem. The opening track, “Honeymoon Avenue”, is iconic—it’s the perfect way to start her debut album. The album is fun, youthful, and full of that “girly” energy that made it so special when it was released. Ariana’s whistle notes are a highlight, and it’s incredible to think that she entered the music scene with such vocal prowess. While many pop stars today don’t offer the same vocal range, Ariana came in strong, and it shows.
“Honeymoon Avenue” is by far my favourite track from this album, and I think it deserves more recognition. Honourable mentions include “Baby I”, “Lovin’ It”, and “The Way”. Yours Truly really speaks to the teenage girl in me, and I’m grateful to have had this album during my pre-teen and teen years.
4. eternal sunshine
I adore eternal sunshine. As a longtime fan, I’ll admit I was a little anxious when this album was first announced—I wasn’t sure what to expect. “yes, and?” was an excellent response to the hate she had received, but it also marked a shift in Ariana’s musical style. After a four-year hiatus and her long focus on Wicked, I expected some theatre-inspired elements. But, true to form, Ariana came back with something entirely fresh, pouring her heart into this project.
What makes eternal sunshine stand out is its raw authenticity. Ariana opens up about her divorce, dating experiences, and growing up. She also touches on the hate she faces publicly. The short film “Brighter Days Ahead”, which came with the deluxe edition, was a powerful addition and showed how much this album meant to her. My favourite tracks include “the boy is mine”, “imperfect for you”, and “true story”.
5. thank u, next
The surprise drop of thank u, next took the pop world by storm. It’s home to one of my all-time favourite Ariana songs, “needy”, which gives it a special place in my heart. This album is filled with gems like “ghostin”, one of her most personal songs, both lyrically and sonically. For me, “needy”, “make up”, and “in my head” are standouts.
This album marked the prime of her music career, and I remember vividly watching Ariana perform “imagine”, “7 rings”, and “thank u, next” at the 2020 Grammys, only to leave the ceremony empty-handed. It’s a travesty she didn’t win that year, especially with the success of both “thank u, next” and “7 rings”. That era will always hold a special place for me.
6. Sweetener
Sweetener is one of those albums that was misunderstood and, unfortunately, overhated. Yes, Ariana went through a lot during this era—breakups, mental healing from the Manchester terrorist attack—but people weren’t always kind in their reception of the album. Despite this, Sweetener was the first and only album that earned Ariana a Grammy, and rightfully so. Pharrell’s production is a standout here, adding a unique flavour that sets the album apart from her other releases.
The “no tears left to cry” music video was iconic, and seeing Ariana come back so powerfully after everything she had gone through was inspiring. My favourite songs include “borderline”, “get well soon”, and “everytime”. I had the privilege of attending the Sweetener/Thank U, Next World Tour in 2019, and hearing these songs live made me love them even more.
7. Dangerous Woman
It’s hard for me to rank Dangerous Woman last because I truly love this album. However, there are just tracks on the other albums that resonate with me more. The standout songs here are “Let Me Love You”, “I Don’t Care”, and “Moonlight”. Dangerous Woman helped solidify Ariana as a pop star and marked a shift in her image—after the release of the single “Dangerous Woman”, people started to take her more seriously as an artist.
Though this album is a fan favourite, I can’t help but think some of the other albums just edge it out for me. However, Ariana has collaborations that I absolutely love, including “Adore” by Cashmere Cat, “My Favorite Part” by Mac Miller, “Rule The World” by 2 Chainz, and “How I Look on You” from the Charlie’s Angels 2019 soundtrack. Her Christmas EPs, Christmas & Chill and Christmas Kisses, also contain some criminally underrated holiday bangers.
Ranking Ariana Grande’s albums was a difficult task because each of them has something unique to offer. As someone who’s seen Ariana live in concert, owns a ton of her merchandise, and has listened to every song she’s ever released, I’ll always be one of her biggest supporters. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!