The Shocking Truth: Why Ariana Grande Skipped The 2025 Grammys Despite Three Major Nominations

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards, held on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, was a night of monumental wins and shocking snubs, but one of the biggest talking points was the conspicuous absence of pop superstar Ariana Grande. This is the latest news as of December 18, 2025, detailing the full story behind her decision. Despite securing three significant nominations for her critically acclaimed album, Eternal Sunshine, the singer chose to sit out the music industry's biggest night, sparking widespread speculation among fans and industry analysts alike.

Her decision to skip the ceremony was a calculated move, one that signals a major pivot in her career and priorities. The three nominations—including a nod for her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine—were a testament to her continued dominance in the pop landscape. However, the lack of recognition in the coveted "Big Four" categories, coupled with her intense commitment to her burgeoning film career, provided the clearest explanation for her absence from the 2025 Grammy red carpet.

Ariana Grande: A Snapshot of Her Current Career and Profile

Before diving into the Grammy details, here is a quick look at the artist who has transitioned from Nickelodeon star to global pop icon and now, a major film actress.

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• Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
• Date of Birth: June 26, 1993
• Age (as of 2025): 32
• Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
• Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Businesswoman (R.e.m. Beauty Founder)
• Key Studio Albums: Yours Truly (2013), My Everything (2014), Dangerous Woman (2016), Sweetener (2018), Thank U, Next (2019), Positions (2020), Eternal Sunshine (2024)
• Grammy Wins (Prior to 2025): 2 (Best Pop Vocal Album for Sweetener; Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Rain on Me" with Lady Gaga)
• Major 2024/2025 Projects: Eternal Sunshine (Album), Wicked (Film Adaptation, playing Glinda the Good Witch)
• Current Focus: Acting and the global press tour for the *Wicked* film series.

The Three Grammy Nominations for 'Eternal Sunshine'

Ariana Grande's seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, released in March 2024, was a deeply personal and critically lauded return to form. The album, which blends her signature R&B instincts with late-90s synth-pop and dance elements, was a commercial success, enjoying a massive sales spike and returning to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 with its deluxe version, eternal sunshine: brighter days ahead. This success translated into three nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, highlighting the album's quality and the strength of its singles.

1. Best Pop Vocal Album: Eternal Sunshine

This was the most anticipated nomination for the album. Eternal Sunshine, primarily produced by Grande, Max Martin, and Ilya Salmanzadeh, was praised for its cohesive narrative and imaginative sonic landscape, dealing with themes of divorce, healing, and self-discovery. While it was a strong contender, the category faced stiff competition. Though a win would have marked her second time securing this award, the nomination itself solidified the album's place as one of the best pop offerings of the eligibility period.

2. Best Pop Dance Recording: "yes, and?"

The lead single from the album, "yes, and?", was a clear choice for the newly established Best Pop Dance Recording category. The track, a defiant, house-infused anthem, immediately became a global hit, showcasing Grande’s ability to pivot into pure dance territory while maintaining her vocal prowess. The song's success was a major factor in the album’s initial buzz, proving that pop stars could thrive in the expanding Dance/Electronic genre space. The category was ultimately won by Charli XCX for "Von Dutch," but the nomination underscored the track's cultural impact.

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3. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: "Defying Gravity" (with Cynthia Erivo)

Perhaps the most unique nomination was for the cinematic duet "Defying Gravity," a track recorded with her *Wicked* co-star, Cynthia Erivo. This nomination was a direct nod to her major role as Glinda in the highly anticipated film adaptation. The collaboration showcased their powerful vocal chemistry and served as a bridge between her music career and her acting commitments. The inclusion of a song from the *Wicked* soundtrack in a major Grammy category was a huge win for the film's promotional efforts and a testament to the cultural relevance of the project.

The Real Reason Ariana Grande Skipped the 2025 Grammys

The question on everyone's mind—"Where was Ariana Grande?"—has a multi-layered answer that speaks volumes about her current career trajectory. Her absence, despite the three nominations, was not due to a scheduling conflict with a tour, but rather a deliberate choice to focus on her acting career and a potential feeling of being overlooked by the Recording Academy.

Prioritizing the 'Wicked' Film Series

The primary reason cited for her absence was her commitment to the *Wicked* film series. Grande has been deeply immersed in the world of Glinda, not only during the filming but also throughout the extensive global press and promotional tour leading up to the film's release. In a statement, she indicated a desire to "prioritize acting for now," suggesting that attending the Grammys would have taken focus away from her commitment to the movie.

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This dedication is a strategic career move. The *Wicked* films represent a massive, career-defining moment, potentially launching her into a new echelon of Hollywood stardom. By focusing entirely on this project, she is signaling to the industry and the public that her role as an actress is just as serious as her role as a musician.

The 'Big Four' Snub

A significant, though unspoken, factor contributing to her decision was the perceived snub in the Recording Academy's four most prestigious categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist (though she is ineligible for the last). Despite the critical and commercial success of Eternal Sunshine, it failed to secure a nomination for the coveted Album of the Year.

For an artist of Grande's stature, who has previously won major awards, a nomination in the "Big Four" is often the benchmark for attendance. The feeling of being overlooked for the top prizes, despite having a highly successful and acclaimed album, may have reduced her incentive to participate in the ceremony. This kind of calculated absence is not uncommon for A-list artists who feel their work deserves broader recognition.

The Future: Music, Movies, and the Next Grammys

While Ariana Grande was absent from the 2025 Grammys, her influence was undeniable. The success of Eternal Sunshine and its singles like "yes, and?" and "we can't be friends (wait for your love)" has set a high bar for her next musical chapter. Her collaborations with Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh have once again proven to be a formidable partnership, crafting modern pop masterpieces.

Looking ahead, the focus remains on the *Wicked* film franchise. However, Grande has made it clear that "performing will always be a part of my life," suggesting that a major tour or a new musical project will eventually follow her acting commitments. The music industry is already buzzing about what her next album, potentially dropping in late 2025 or 2026, will sound like, and whether it will finally secure her that elusive Album of the Year nomination at a future Grammy ceremony. Her dedicated fan base, the Arianators, continue to support her R.e.m. Beauty brand and her artistic endeavors, ensuring that her presence—whether on the red carpet or off—remains a dominant force in pop culture.