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Singer Ariana Grande may be a pop star, but her album release cycles as of late haven’t followed the traditional trajectory for the genre. After the smash success of Thank U, Next, there’s reason to believe her sixth album is on its way. Discover why she could opt to preview it during a live performance.

Ariana Grande released 2 albums in 6 months

Grande began her career in the music with back-to-back albums, Yours Truly (in 2013), and My Everything (in 2014). She then adjusted to a more typical every-other-year release schedule, dropping Dangerous Woman in 2016 and Sweetener in August 2018. Both albums were in the works for over a year.

Following her split from fiance Pete Davidson in September 2018, Grande went straight to the studio, where she began recording what would become her fifth studio album, Thank U, Next. After dropping the title single in November 2018, she released the full album in February 2019, less than six months after Sweetener.

She is often working on new music

While many commend Grande’s work ethic, her fans occasionally worry about her. “pls take a break. u fed us well,” tweeted one fan in February 2020. “we’ll see. it’s only feb but i am antsy and inspired,” she replied. This was just a few months before she and Justin Bieber released their song “Stuck with U.”

Grande’s desire to always create is something she’s expressed before. “I always say imma take a break and not make songs but then i remember that making songs is literally the thing that brings my heart and soul SOOO MUCH JOY and SOLACE and i’m right back where i was,” Grande wrote on Instagram in May 2019 (via Teen Vogue).

Grande teased fans in September 2020

After “Stuck with U,” a song that Grande had recorded previously debuted. She and Lady Gaga teamed up for “Rain on Me,” a single off Gaga’s 2020 album Chromatica. Meanwhile, Grande continued to share photos from her personal recording studio, fueling rumors that more music was on its way.

Many artists like to take time off while gearing up for an album cycle. Grande, who is relatively active on social media, stoked the fires even further when she dropped a brief audio snippet (sans lyrics) on her accounts on Sept. 14, 2020, writing simply, “brb.” She then stayed quiet for weeks.

Why she could share new music at the Billboard Music Awards

Ariana Grande performs onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ariana Grande performs onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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Ariana Grande Teases Fans With Secret Tracks, Says She’s ‘Antsy and Inspired’

It’s not just rappers releasing singles and albums without promotion these days. Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift did it, too. Speaking of Thank U, Next, Grande said to expect more like it in the future. “I just want to f*cking talk to my fans and sing and write music and drop it the way these boys do,” she told Rolling Stone. “So I do and I did and I am, and I will continue to.”

While Grande could spring AG6 on her fans at any time, she may choose to introduce her first single in a live setting, something her friend Miley Cyrus did in the past. Grande is nominated at the Billboard Music Awards airing on October 14, 2020. And it could very well be the start of her new era.

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