5 Shocking Ways Ariana Grande's Life Changed 5 Years Ago: The Secret Album, New Love, And Historic Collaborations
Five years ago, as of late December 2025, the world of pop music was navigating a period of unprecedented change, and at the center of it was global superstar Ariana Grande. The year 2020—the period we are looking back on—was a pivotal, yet intensely private, chapter for the singer, marking a significant shift in both her musical direction and her personal life. It was a time defined by a surprise album drop, historic chart-topping collaborations, and the beginning of a whirlwind, low-key romance that culminated in a stunning engagement.
This retrospective dives deep into the high-impact events of Grande’s life five years ago, revealing how she used a period of global lockdown to create some of the most intimate, R&B-infused music of her career and quietly set the stage for a new, more private era that would eventually lead her toward her current projects, including her role in the *Wicked* film adaptation and her 2024 album, *Eternal Sunshine*.
Ariana Grande: Biography Profile (Focus on 2020 Context)
- Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
- Born: June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida
- Age in 2020: 26–27 years old
- Major Project 5 Years Ago (2020): Released her sixth studio album, *Positions*.
- Key Personal Event 5 Years Ago (2020): Began dating and became engaged to real estate agent Dalton Gomez.
- Previous Album Context: Followed the massive, emotionally raw success of *Sweetener* (2018) and *Thank U, Next* (2019).
- Major Collaborations in 2020: "Rain on Me" with Lady Gaga and "Stuck with U" with Justin Bieber.
- Current Projects (Late 2025 Context): Preparing for the release of *Wicked* Part Two (2026) and continuing to promote her Grammy-nominated album *Eternal Sunshine* (2024).
- Relationship Status (2025): Divorced from Dalton Gomez and in a new relationship.
1. The *Positions* Era: A Surprise Shift to R&B and Intimacy
Five years ago, in October 2020, Ariana Grande shocked the music world with the surprise announcement and rapid release of her sixth studio album, *Positions*. This album marked a deliberate and significant departure from the trap-pop and emotional pop-R&B of her previous two blockbuster records, *Sweetener* and *Thank U, Next*. Instead, *Positions* leaned heavily into a lush, string-laden, and decidedly more R&B sound, showcasing Grande’s technical vocal prowess in a new light.
The entire album creation process was deeply influenced by the global pandemic, which had forced the world into lockdown. Grande collaborated closely with producers like Tommy Brown and Murda Beatz, creating a soundscape that felt both intimate and sophisticated. The album’s themes were a direct reflection of her personal life at the time: a newfound sense of domestic bliss, confidence, and sexual maturity.
Key Singles and Album Tracks That Defined the Sound
- "Positions": The title track and lead single, released one week before the album, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Grande the first artist to have five singles debut at the top of the chart. The accompanying music video, which featured Grande as the President of the United States, was a witty, high-production statement on balancing her public and private roles.
- "34+35": This track became a viral sensation for its playful, explicit lyrical content. Its popularity soared, especially after a remix featuring rappers Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion was released in early 2021, helping it climb to number two on the Hot 100.
- "POV": Often cited by fans as the emotional core of the album, "POV" (Point of View) is a tender ballad about seeing oneself through the loving eyes of a partner. It highlighted the deep, secure connection Grande was experiencing in her personal life at the time.
2. A Quarantine Romance: The Start of the Dalton Gomez Relationship
Perhaps the most significant personal change for Ariana Grande five years ago was the start and rapid escalation of her relationship with luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez. Having previously navigated high-profile, highly scrutinized relationships, Grande chose to keep this new romance intensely private, a stark contrast to her past.
The couple began dating in January 2020, just before the global health crisis forced widespread lockdowns. This unique circumstance meant their relationship developed rapidly and away from the public eye, as they quarantined together in her Los Angeles home. This period of intense, private bonding laid the foundation for their future commitments.
By December 2020, as the year drew to a close, Grande announced her engagement to Gomez with a heartfelt Instagram post showing her ring—a unique pairing of a diamond and a pearl. The news confirmed that the seemingly quiet period had been a time of profound personal growth and commitment for the artist. This engagement, five years ago, was a clear signal that Grande was prioritizing a stable, private life, a stark contrast to the tumultuous, public-facing drama that had preceded it.
3. Historic Collaborations and Chart Dominance in 2020
While the *Positions* album defined her solo work, 2020 was also a year of monumental collaborations that solidified Ariana Grande’s position as a chart powerhouse. These projects were not just commercial successes; they were cultural moments that provided a sense of unity during a difficult year.
"Rain on Me" with Lady Gaga
In May 2020, Grande teamed up with fellow pop icon Lady Gaga for the single "Rain on Me," a high-energy dance-pop anthem released on Gaga's album *Chromatica*. The song was an immediate phenomenon, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This historic achievement made it the first-ever all-female collaboration to debut at the top spot, breaking a long-standing record and showcasing the immense combined star power of the two artists.
"Stuck with U" with Justin Bieber
Another major collaboration that defined the year was "Stuck with U," a charity single with longtime friend and fellow pop star Justin Bieber. Released in May 2020, the song was a tender, acoustic-driven track that captured the feeling of being in lockdown with a loved one. The music video featured fan-submitted clips of couples and families, including a sweet, subtle reveal of Grande and Dalton Gomez dancing together, confirming their relationship to the public for the first time. The song also debuted at number one, further cementing Grande’s incredible chart run that year.
These two collaborations, alongside the success of her own single "Positions," meant that in 2020, Ariana Grande achieved the distinction of having the most number-one debuts on the Billboard Hot 100, a testament to her unparalleled influence in the music industry at the time.
4. The Legacy of 2020: Setting the Stage for the Future
Looking back five years, the events of 2020 served as a crucial bridge between the *Thank U, Next* era of intense public scrutiny and the more controlled, professional focus of her later career. The *Positions* album, with its R&B influence and intimate themes, allowed Grande to transition from a figure defined by tragedy and public relationships to an artist focused on domesticity and sophisticated musicality.
The quiet commitment to Dalton Gomez, formalized by their engagement in December 2020, signaled her desire for a stable personal foundation. This stability was vital, as it provided the backdrop against which she would later take on her most ambitious career move: accepting the role of Glinda in the highly anticipated film adaptation of the musical *Wicked*. The emotional maturity and confidence she exuded during the *Positions* era were precursors to the major professional and personal decisions she would make in the years that followed.
The year 2020 was not just a pause; it was a powerful period of creation, commitment, and chart domination, proving that even in a global crisis, Ariana Grande could pivot her career, define a new sound, and find profound personal happiness away from the spotlight.
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