Why Ariana Grande Choked Up and Got Emotional in Her Pittsburgh Concert

BuzzJune 17, 2019

There’s no denying that it’s hard to break up with someone, but all the more if the person you used to be with passed away. Sometimes you can’t help but tear up when you see something that reminds you of that person, which what might have happened to Ariana Grande, who can’t help but be emotional when she performed in Pittsburgh.

Struggle in Performance

The pop star is currently on her “Sweetener World Tour,” where she recently made her stop at PPG Paints Arena, performing her chart-topping hits as the crowd sang along. The undeniably talented celebrity, however, obviously choked through some words in some of the songs that heavily alluded to her ex, the late Mac Miller.

lev radin/Shutterstock
Ariana Grande found it hard to perform in Mac Miller’s hometown

The fans weren’t deaf nor blind to know that Ariana was tearing up as she was paying tribute to the rapper all throughout the concert. According to some observers, Mac Miller’s songs were played before the 25-year-old had hit the stage, which reportedly had been a routine in her tour stops. Some concertgoers even claimed that the songstress had reserved a seat for him.

Fans’ Support

When she performed the opening song, “Raindrops (An Angel Cried),” no hiding proved to be fruitful as wasn’t able to continue singing. The number is about mourning and grief and was believed to be about the death of Mac. Ariana’s fans got her back and cheered on the singer, encouraging her that she could do it. The rapper met his untimely demise in September last year at just 26.

Jack Fordyce/Shutterstock
Mac Miller died last year at 26

Ariana also performed her hit “Thank U, Next,” which was about the pain, the love, and the lessons she had learned from her past relationships. During the song, the award-winning singer was obviously struggling and was even unable to properly sing the line “Wish I could say thank you to Malcolm / Cause he was an angel.” Malcolm James McCormick was popularly known as Mac. Noticing that she was about to cry, her fans belted out the song for her in support of their idol.

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller’s Love Life

Unlike the rather fast development of her relationship with “Saturday Night Live” cast member and former fiancé Pete Davidson, Ariana and Mac first started out as friends and had built out a really strong foundation. Their first collaboration was 2013’s “The Way,” with the music video prompting dating rumors. However, the “Self-Care” singer was quick to shot down speculations, saying they were just friends.

Zire/Shutterstock
Ariana Grande and Mac Miller started out as good friends

In 2016, Ariana had broken up with Ricky Alvarez and later on was seen with Mac in Disneyland. This was followed by numerous appearances of the rapper on the “No Tears Left to Cry” singer’s Snapchat. They collaborated again in “My Favorite Part,” which was a hit in his album “The Divine Feminine.” In an interview, he said that there was no awkwardness between them while doing the song.

Mac was always there by her side, including during Ariana’s concert following the bombing, which had tremendously affected her. By 2018, she released “No Tears Left to Cry” and among the first ones to congratulate her for the comeback was the rapper. In May last year, she confirmed their breakup through an Instagram story that hinted she will continue to support him no matter what.