Ariana Grande portrays Penny Pingleton, Tracy Turnblad's incorrigible best friend, on NBC's December 7 production of "Hairspray Live!"

In 2013, Grande reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 twice - first with her first solo debut, "Yours Truly," and with its follow-up, "My Everything."

"Yours Truly" hit No. 1 on the iTunes Overall Top Songs chart, while the platinum-selling "My Everything" garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album and spawned the six-time platinum hit "Problem." Moreover, it debuted at No. 1 in 85 countries, topping the iTunes Overall Top Songs and Pop Songs charts for four weeks.

Grande also became the first woman in history and first artist since Michael Jackson to simultaneously have three songs - "Problem," "Break Free" featuring Zedd, and "Bang Bang" with Nicki Minaj and Jessie J - in the top six of the Digital Songs chart. "Bang Bang" went platinum and was Grammy nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. By the end of the year, Grande landed four songs in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, the most of any artist. In 2014, she had five Hot 100 Top 10 smashes.

Earlier this year, Grande released her mega-anticipated third full-length album, "Dangerous Woman," which was driven by the title track that reached No. 1 on both iTunes Overall Top Songs chart and Top Pop Songs chart minutes after release. "Dangerous Woman" also debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her the distinction of becoming the first artist to debut on the chart with the lead single from her first three albums.

As an actress, Grande reprised her "Victorious" role as Cat Valentine in the 2013 Nickelodeon series "Sam & Cat." Last year, Grande co-starred on the Fox series "Scream Queens." In March, Grande was the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live," marking her second appearance on the iconic late-night franchise.

On the stage, Grande was cast as a cheerleader in 2008 in the Broadway musical "13."