Ariana Grande: 'Mac Miller Encouraged Me to Be Myself'

Ariana Grande spoke about the late rapper Mac Miller on The Hollywood Reporter's podcast, revealing the influence he had on her artistic development.

In an episode broadcast on January 13, recorded in December, Grande discussed the creation of her first album, Yours Truly, and the encouragement she received from Miller to be authentic.

'He told me it was okay to leave behind the character I had, to accept my brown hair, to make pop music with R&B influences and... to do something brave. I never said it, but it was a big influence. He encouraged me to be myself,' Grande said.

Mac Miller, Grande's former partner, died in 2018 from a drug overdose.