Yours Truly

Ariana Grande's debut album, Yours Truly, arrived on August 30, 2013, via Republic Records, marking her transition from Nickelodeon star to serious pop contender. Recorded over nearly two years, the album was shaped by producers like Harmony Samuels, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Patrick "J. Que" Smith, and her Victorious co-star Leon Thomas III. Guests include Big Sean, Mika, Mac Miller, and Nathan Sykes of The Wanted. Musically, Yours Truly blends contemporary R&B with pop, drawing on 1990s hip-hop, 1950s piano pop, and doo-wop, all echoing the styles of Grande's idols: Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, and Christina Aguilera. Critics praised her vocal range and the retro-soul vibe.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 138,000 copies in its first week, making Grande the fifteenth female artist to top the chart with a debut. It went platinum and reached the top ten in several countries, including Australia, Canada, and the UK. The lead single "The Way" hit number nine, followed by "Baby I" and "Right There," and Grande supported the album with the Listening Sessions tour. [edit]