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Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande are two of the biggest names in the music industry. Both artists found fame at young ages and currently have several awards under their belts. Like Grande, Eilish has also adjusted to growing up in the public eye. Although they have similar backgrounds, are they friends in 2021? Here’s what Showbiz Cheat Sheet knows. 

Billie Eilish smiling while wearing a patterned outfit and boat hat while holding her 2021 Grammys/ Ariana Grande holding her cheek and pursing her lips in a silver gown.
(L-R): Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy, Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Billie Eilish admired Ariana Grande as a child

In 2010, Grande became famous through the Nickelodeon series, Victorious. On the show, she played Cat Valentine for several seasons. When Victorious ended, Grande started to pursue her singing career.  Her chart-topping debut came in 2013 when she released “The Way,” which featured her ex-boyfriend, the late Mac Miller. 

Several years after Grande rose to stardom, Eilish gained notoriety with her 2016 song “Ocean Eyes.” The singer performed the song for the first time at age 14. Before she would make her mark in the music world, Eilish was a big fan of Grande’s music. The Los Angeles native’s father, Patrick O’Connell, said that the “Lovely” performer religiously sang Grande’s songs at home. 

“Before you were the Billie Eilish thing, you would sit in your room and do Ariana Grande songs,” O’Connell said during his and Eilish’s podcast, Me & Dad. 

The friendship between Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande 

Since her 2016 debut, Eilish’s career exploded. The “Bad Guy” singer started to grab attention with her sultry sound and melodic tunes. Additionally, Eilish’s style became more noticeable than the singer’s voice as her career grew. The 19-year-old crooner’s signature black and green hair and tracksuits are a staple in her wardrobe. 

Through her fame, Eilish and Grande got to know each other outside of their massive careers. The singers often exchange congratulations on social media and had an iconic moment at the 2020 Grammy Awards. While accepting the award for Album of the Year, Eilish claimed that Grande deserved the accolade. The “Side to Side” singer got nominated for her 2019 album, Thank U, Next. 

“Can I just say that I think Ariana deserves this,” Eilish said at the beginning of her acceptance speech. “Thank U, Next got me through some sh*t. And I think it deserves more than anything in the world. I love you so much.”

Following her acknowledgment of Grande, the “7 rings” singer celebrated her friend’s win. She instructed Eilish to have her “moment” during the event. 

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Eilish and Grande’s friendship has continued to grow within the last year. In Nov. 2020, the “Therefore I Am” songstress opened up about her relationship with the “Bang Bang” performer with Vanity Fair. During the interview, Eilish said she relies on Grande for advice on navigating the music industry as a teenager. She also added that Katy Perry and Justin Bieber also give her guidance and support.  

“I’ve definitely had moments of, like, reaching out to a couple of people,” Eilish said. “But every time I do it, I kind of stop myself because I’m like, ‘This is so weird.’”

“I’ve had some conversations with [Justin] Bieber about this, where we just talk about the craziness of our lives, and whatever,” she continued. “Ariana [Grande]’s been really cool about stuff. Those are some people that I feel have really shown me support. And like, even like, Katy Perry told me that I could reach out to her whenever and talk about it because it’s crazy.”

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