If you ask Patti LaBelle, Ariana Grande has that blue-eyed soul thing going for her.
Ms. LaBelle presented singer Ariana Grande with the Billboard Woman of the Year award on Thursday night.
She opened her speech by saying, “I’m here for my baby girl "
The “Somebody Loves You Baby” singer expressed how much she adored the young songstress.
"I'm thrilled to be among so many wonderful friends to present this year's ultimate honor to Billboard's Woman of the Year. A young woman who has it all. She's soulful, strong, and she's just sensational. She's all that and a bag of chips," LaBelle exclaimed. "She's a giant talent who sings from the heart, as I learned when we sang together at the White House for President Obama and Mrs. Obama. She tore it down; honestly, she can sing her face off."
She then talked about the many causes Grande supports, including gun control and Black Lives Matter, before taking the pop star’s hand as she joined her on stage, stating she sings like a "Black white girl."
“She asked me some questions one time, remember when we did the president’s stuff? And you said, 'Patti, what should I do?' I said sing like that little white/Black girl that you are," she said. "My son told me not to say that, but it's true."
The accolades outlined by LaBelle are timely considering the rough past two years the "Thank U, Next" singer has experienced.
Last May, 22 people were killed during a terrorist attack at Grande's concert in Manchester. The 25-year-old singer has also openly shared her battle with PTSD following the traumatic event. She also lost ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller, to an apparent overdose and recently ended a four-month engagement with Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson.
“I want to say that I find it interesting that this has been one of like the best years of my career, and like the worst of my life. I’m not saying that for sympathy . . ." she said in her acceptance speech.
Grande continued by stating that people look at her as having it all, but she still struggles in her personal life.
“She’s really on it; she’s got it all’ . . . I do, but as far as like my personal life goes, I really have no idea what the f**k I’m doing. So yeah, it’s been a very conflicting one. I just want to say that if you’re someone out there who has no idea what this next chapter is gonna bring, you’re not alone in that,” Grande continued.
She said she's forgiven the men in her past and expressed thanks for the life she currently has.
"I have everything I've ever dreamt of having, and as of late I've discovered that it's the things I've always had and the people I've always had that still make me the happiest," she said in closing.
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