That Ariana Grande Singer Says “Hell Yeah” She’d Go Country
Pop star Ariana Grande is saying “hell yeah” she would do something in the country realm, and her timing couldn’t be better. As pointed out by periodicals as diverse as Saving Country Music and The New York Times, country collaborations with pop stars are all the rage as vapid stars look to gain chart traction for terrible singles in the post-Apocolyptic landscape that is mainstream country after the implosion of Bro-Country.
“My grandpa, he always wanted me to do something in the country world. I don’t know if that would ever happen, [but] if that opportunity comes along, I’d have to say, ‘Hell yeah!'” Ariana Grande tells Entertainment Tonight in a new interview. “My grandpa was like, ‘You need to do a country song,’ So, [I] gotta make that happen someday.”
Grande went on to pinch her thumb and finger together in the universal sign of “barely anything” to describe her country music knowledge, but said her dad used to listen to the Dixie Chicks while she was in the car, “so that’s the most country I’ve been exposed to.”
Well shit, then come on in! That’s still probably more than Chris Lane. It sounds like Ms. Grande has read Saving Country Music’s handy Country Music Collaborator / Interloper Field Guide which tells prospective country music migrants to “explain how some member of your family listened to country music and you were exposed to it from an early age.”
But what Ariana Grande forgot, what the Entertainment Tonight interviewer forgot, and what the entire world has forgotten (except your astute country music tour guide here at Saving Country Music) is that Ariana Grande actually has taken a dive into the country music world. The reason nobody remembers is because it was completely forgettable. At the 2014 CMA Awards Ariana Grande came out wrapped in a neon rope and performed her dumb song “Bang Bang” with the hapless Little Big Town backing her up.
It was so stupid, pointless, and awkward, even industry mouthpiece Billboard said at the time, “Even though we knew Grande would be there, we weren’t expecting her performance to be so straight-up pop. It was a weird moment — especially for an ostensibly country awards show — but it was definitely memorable.”
May want to revise that last part Billboard.
What would be more surprising at this point? Ariana Grande making a country song or album, or her not making a country song or album?
It’s only a matter of time before Ariana Grande’s dressed in overalls and jumping around in a fucking Cole Swindell video.
Dan
September 26, 2016 @ 6:01 pm
Well fuck me, I may just have to throw my hat in the ring now.
Andrew
September 26, 2016 @ 6:13 pm
Hell no.
Lynne
September 26, 2016 @ 6:23 pm
Hey! What you say?! Ariana Grande in a Cole Swindell video?! We know that ain’t never gonna happen. Assuming any publicity is good publicity, thank you, Trigger!
Hopefully we will not see Ariana Grande take another country music stage.
CCRR
September 26, 2016 @ 6:32 pm
I really don’t have a strong opinion on pop stars doing songs with country singers…I don’t have some strange entitlement complex regarding country music, so I don’t feel like they’re trespassing into my sacred genre or something….BUT I don’t think I’ve ever heard a pop/country collabo that I’ve actually enjoyed either. Not on either side of the fence here I suppose. Regardless, I DO have an opinion on Ariana Grande, and she annoys the hell out of me, so I really hope she stays the hell away.
Michael Reddy
September 26, 2016 @ 6:36 pm
Who’s Ariana Grande ? Is she one of those teeny bopper pop singers whose songs has about as much staying power as a bag of Oreo’s at my house ?
I miss Steve Gaines
September 26, 2016 @ 6:43 pm
It’s only a matter of time before Ariana Grande’s dressed in overalls and jumping around in a fucking Cole Swindell video. Ok that can Never be topped, I’m never going to reply again, with the wordsmith being humorous!
Erik North
September 26, 2016 @ 6:56 pm
I wouldn’t lose any sleep over this.
Jim Bob
September 26, 2016 @ 7:34 pm
“said her dad used to listen to the Dixie Chicks while she was in the car”
Fuck, I’m thinking more and more that Dale Watson’s right and we just need to fucking give up the term “country” altogether. Fuck my generation so hard
Biscuit
September 27, 2016 @ 6:48 pm
Dale Watson is absolutely right, Ameripolitan is the way!
{This message brought to you by the Committee To Elect Dale Watson For President 2016}
Kevin Smith
September 28, 2016 @ 6:35 am
Darn Tootin’ Biscuit! The industry hasn’t changed and likely never will. They remain obsessed with youth and a pop sound. Dale made a huge decision and it’s probably a good one. Americana is ok, but Honky Tonk and Outlaw Country get ignored there as well as Rockabilly and Western Swing. Although I am not a fan of the term Ameripolitan, I love everything it represents. So I support it. Dales lyrics may change a bit now though. ” Mr DJ, won’t ya please play, a real ameripolitan song.!”
TheCheapSeats
September 26, 2016 @ 8:45 pm
Come on in Ariana. Play in the sewage. It’s warm and rife with bacteria. The implosion is nye and the sooner the better. Cannon ball in, my dear. The more the merrier.
Bolivwx
September 26, 2016 @ 9:49 pm
She was pretty much R&B when she started with her first studio album, but her albums became more pop as the few years went by. She did a performance on one of the award shows I remember, and if she was country, she’d be an American country singer with Italian descent.
Christian H
September 26, 2016 @ 11:16 pm
Forever Country; 7 Years and Ariana Grande articles all on the same day? It took me a minute, but I figured it out. Trigger is sipping a Booker’s Bourbon and laughing with a wily grin as we all read his articles tonight. He is just messing with us; setting a day aside to humor himself. Good one Trigger! I get it. We can’t be serious all the time!
David
September 26, 2016 @ 11:39 pm
To be fair, having country artists sing your own pop song isn’t the same as a pop star singing a country song.
albert
September 27, 2016 @ 12:31 am
”…………with the hapless Little Big Town backing her up.”
…..’nuff said , trigger .
I think it would be funny if , say ,jazz music became really really hip and jazz artists began getting tons of exposure and making big $$$ .Its not hard to imagine the Steven Tylers , the Demi Lovatos , the Blake Sheltons, the Cyndi Laupers and Cole Swindles suddenly discovering their jazzness and jumping on the jazz train with lines like ” my great uncle was a sax man and I used to listen to him at Xmas get-togethers” or ” my Gramma used to sing along to Tony Bennett’s records at home ..so yeah ….I’ve got jazz in me . I’ve been singing in the church choir but I always wanted to make a jazz record . 14 chords and the truth …yup that’s me….that’s MY roots .
DimM
September 27, 2016 @ 12:47 am
After this , i expect Madonna singing ” He stopped loving her today” about her son Rocco.An instant Billboard country #1.
Fat Freddy's Cat
September 27, 2016 @ 3:29 am
Yeah, that’s what country music needs: the ditzy woman caught on video licking the donuts.
Corncaster
September 27, 2016 @ 5:27 am
Used to be country singers, like Merle, would bring in some Mexican flavor now and then. You don’t hear much if any of that now, and I wonder why. Seems like a missed opportunity.
Amanda
September 27, 2016 @ 5:59 am
Like Travis Tritt said, “Country ain’t country no more.”. Hey Trigger, are you going to do a review on the William Michael Morgan album when it is released?
Trigger
September 27, 2016 @ 7:32 am
Likely.
Amanda
September 27, 2016 @ 12:02 pm
That will be awesome, as I believe that he will have a great album. What I’ve heard, so far, is great. 🙂
Greg Green
September 27, 2016 @ 7:00 am
We’ve already got Jana Kramer, isn’t that enough?
Bear
September 28, 2016 @ 11:35 am
Pfffft we already had Taylor Swift and before her Shania Twain wasn’t that enough. I guess not. This is always first for money and second it makes people seem more well-rounded and accepting if they can say they country music (same for rap) when in fact they don’t because the “real shit” is to “real” for an average music fan and not watered down for mass consumption.
Peter
September 27, 2016 @ 7:18 am
I love Ariana Grande. Why? Because she’s hot. I think country music would be Ariana Grande’s side-project. Ariana Grande is a pop star where her music can be any genre including country. That way, Ariana Grande gets to be an all in 1 pop star.
MH
September 27, 2016 @ 7:29 am
Is it really a side project when the production doesn’t change?
Kevin Smith
September 27, 2016 @ 8:29 am
Yep, hotness definitely makes you country, not to mention listening to Dixie Chicks. Move over Miranda, outta the way Carrie, and step off that throne Dolly and Loretta, Arianna is on her way! All hail the new queen of country! Only one problem, you gotta compete with Queen Bey!!
Bear
September 28, 2016 @ 11:36 am
And I like the Dixie Chicks but seriously THEY are becoming like Queen was three years ago as artist everyone name drops to let you know they have done their homework and are in the know.
Liza
September 27, 2016 @ 7:49 am
The girl who licked donuts that were on display for customers to buy? Yes, country needs her.
seak05
September 27, 2016 @ 8:30 am
If Ariana decides to do some sort of country song, I will judge it then. No sense in pre-judging something that ins’t even really in a hypothetical stage yet. She has a good voice. If the song is good ok, and if it’s not (more than likely) than I’ll dislike it.
Ariana aside, most of today’s country stars grew up listening to a wide variety of music, and that’s true of stars in other genres too. It is I think generally understandable for musicians to want to explore different types of music. I just get annoyed when something is pitched as country, that’s clearly not country.
sbach66
September 27, 2016 @ 8:39 am
Still more country than Sam Hunt.
Jen
September 27, 2016 @ 1:13 pm
Not to be a bitch, but that line is soooo old!
Marky Mark
September 27, 2016 @ 6:31 pm
Wait, Jen, a short, non-run-on-sentence, logical (albeit rude) comment in which you actually sound lucid? What’s gotten into you?
Brandon F
September 27, 2016 @ 9:45 am
The title track to Ronnie Dunn’s upcoming album is a cover of an Ariana Grande song. I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up doing a remix with her involved. I can actually seeing Ronnie Dunn pulling this one off.
https://youtu.be/DMn7nVPVU8k
Jen
September 27, 2016 @ 1:17 pm
That bitch man is off my radar…after reading his posts on FB…”I’m scared!” “I’m really afraid…” I was done! I’m more man than he is! These comments, btw, were about state of affairs in DC, and in our country..Hell, we’re all scared, we’re all afraid, but some of us are not taking it lying down, and posting like pussies on FB about it! Charlie Daniels tells it like it is, and that’s what I love about him! Merle is gone, so he can’t fight…so many artists today, are so whipped, it’s not funny! If that were the consensus of all the men in this country, man, would we be in serious trouble! Does the man own a gun? I bet not!
BwareDWare94
September 27, 2016 @ 9:53 am
Is this girl even talented? I don’t recall a single song of hers.
Jen
September 27, 2016 @ 1:18 pm
That’s because they’re all about problems, sex, and stupid shit. None worth listening to!
justin casey
September 27, 2016 @ 3:08 pm
people have compared her voice to mariah carey personally i don’t hear it
Chris
September 27, 2016 @ 4:30 pm
When I heard her first single, “The Way,” I thought it was a new Mariah song. So did one of my best friends, who is the biggest Lamb (Mariah’s nickname for her fanbase) I’ve ever met. On subsequent singles, though, I noticed there’s a big difference between the two – Ariana doesn’t know how to enunciate. She sounds like she’s mumbling or has marbles in her mouth when she sings. And the tone of her voice is much more nasal – she sounds like Mariah if Mariah had a cold, marbles in her mouth and had just inhaled helium.
Even though it has seemed she’s gone out of her way to mimic Mariah in other ways such as her look and even her music videos, Ariana is reportedly so tired of the Mariah comparisons that if a reporter brings them up, she ends the interview immediately. So she seemingly has the diva thing down as well.
Speaking of Mariah, with her own pop and R&B career going down the tubes, it honestly wouldn’t surprise me to see her make some move at a pop country career. Or Madonna. Or Lady Gaga if her next pop album flops as hard as the first single already has. (Gaga already did a “country” version of “Born This Way” and released “You and I” which sounded more or less just like the verses on Shania Twain’s “Honey I’m Home”… and if she were to do a country record you can bet her army of Little Monsters would react in the same way the Beyhive are doing if she got “snubbed” for any awards…)
Cilla
September 27, 2016 @ 10:50 am
No,no,and Helllllll NO!
Jen
September 27, 2016 @ 1:07 pm
NO!!!! Please for the love of all that’s HOLY, NO NO NO!!!!
Then again, maybe we could trade Steven Tyler for her? Nah…not a fair trade…they both suck!
MOreb
September 27, 2016 @ 3:28 pm
Aw, HEEELLLL no!!!
D
September 27, 2016 @ 8:10 pm
She could tour with StevenTyler.
Amanda
September 28, 2016 @ 7:14 am
Ariana most certainly should not go country. But she’s still more country than Chris Lane. For God’s sake, Chris covered a Mario tune on his album. Yup, Mario. The great country legend Mario. ******sarcasm*******
Benny Lee
September 28, 2016 @ 7:38 am
I’m not surprised AG doesn’t know anything about country. She became a rich pop star as a teeny-bopper. My goodness, is she even 18 yet?
I wonder how many pop stars understand or even care about the history of their musical style. I don’t mean this in a dismissive way. It just seems to me that pop is so flavor-of-the-day that very little attention is paid to what the music was last week, let alone decades ago.
Benny Lee
September 28, 2016 @ 7:44 am
Ok, she’s 23 now. Man I feel old.
Jimbo
September 28, 2016 @ 10:12 am
Said “Country Music” Award show appearance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnTnlDRFxEY
Holy fucking shit that was terrible.
Bear
September 28, 2016 @ 11:37 am
I like the Dixie Chicks but seriously THEY are becoming like Queen was 4-5 years ago the band every young artist name drops to let you know they have done their homework and are in the know.
albert
October 2, 2016 @ 8:39 am
Let’s keep in mind that the reason all of these pop singers talk about wanting to record a ‘country ‘ album is simple . ITS NOT COUNTRY ! Its ALL pop now ….that is no stretch whatsoever for a pop act . They are all better at pop than any ‘ county ‘ artist singing pop ….hell ….its a no-brainer career -wise . You expand your listener base to ‘country’ fans who wouldn’t know real country music if they heard it by just CALLING your record ‘country’ and , Ok , throwing a banjo on a few intros . Unless your last name is Tyler , of course .