Ariana Grande keeps Manchester close to her heart as evident by the pop titan‘s most recent performance at their Pride Festival 2019.
On Sunday (August 25), Grande, 26, took to the city for her first performance since her star-studded One Love Manchester, the benefit concert she organized for the victims of the terror attack outside of her 2017 Manchester Arena concert. As you know, the bombing killed 22 and injured more than 250 people. According to the Manchester Evening News, the set included usual suspects like "7 Rings," "One Last Time," "Break Free," "Side to Side," "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored," "Be Alright," "No Tears Left to Cry" and a necessary moment to reflect on the LGBTQ community. "My heart has always, you know, the gays have always had my heart, personally," she told the audience. "I spent some of the happiest times of my teenage years singing in gay bars in New York City. I was in a Broadway show and whenever I'd finish a show I'd just go to a gay bar and sing Whitney Houston covers until someone would ask me to leave. It's always been such a special thing for me. So, thank you so much for accepting me, celebrating me the way I've always celebrated you guys.
Needless to say, Grande was "overwhelmed" by being in Manchester and shared that sentiment with the crowd. "Manchester holds a very special place in my heart," she said elsewhere during her performance. "I'm so happy to be with you, so thank you for having me. Sorry, I'm so nervous. I had so much more to say but I'm really very overwhelmed. Thank you."
Prior to the show, Grande spread the LGBTQ love by bedazzling her manager Scooter Braun's face and the media mogul leaned into the moment by sharing the footage with his Instagram following. Scroll on below to see the makeover, as well as moments from her Pride Festival set!
Photo: Getty Images