On Saturday (March 12), Ariana Grande showed off her singing and acting skills when she hosted the latest episode of Saturday Night Live. Not only did she shut down the stage with a debut performance of her new single, "Dangerous Woman," but Grande also kept the audience laughing in a skit impersonating the various music styles of Rihanna, Whitney Houston and many more.
Grande delivered an intimate performance of "Dangerous Woman," rocking her signature high-ponytail and a provocative black ensemble. She wore a lace corset with detailed embroiders around the stomach and paired it with high-waisted pants. Although walking out on stage with a matching black jacket, Grande instantly ditched it as soon as she began singing. Her vocals weren't the only thing that caused Grande to shine on stage, the singer graced the stage with a choker necklace filled with diamonds.
The title track comes from Grande's forthcoming third studio album of the same name. The 22-year-old Florida native has been revealing small details about her new project for months. Later on in the show, Grande teased fans with another song they can expect to hear on the album: "Be Alright." Both performances were backed by a full band.
“I want to be empowering my fans," Grande told fans about the album in a Twitcam Q&A. "I feel like my personal growth is reflected in the sound. I’m really proud of it. To me, a dangerous woman is someone who’s not afraid to take a stand, be herself and to be honest.”
Grande was featured in numerous sketches, including one where she portrayed Jennifer Lawrence in a celebrity edition of Family Feud. The impersonations didn't stop there. She played a shy intern named Chloe in a skit spoofing Tidal's streaming glitches.
The power repeatedly shuts on and off at the company, putting it at risk of losing all of its music. As a last resort, an executive asks Chloe to record a few songs from some of music's biggest names. Grande goes on to impersonate Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Shakira. There was one artist she refused to impersonate: herself, stating she's "not a fan."
Grande is no stranger to impersonations. Last September, she stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where she proved how much she can sound like Christina Aguilera while singing a nursery rhyme.
The official tracklist for Dangerous Woman has yet to be released, but the album is scheduled to hit stores on May 20, 2016. To watch Grande's entire SNL episode, visit here.
