Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber are just one day away from releasing their new quarantine collaboration, “Stuck with U,” on Friday (May 8).
From both being managed by industry power player Scooter Braun to sharing the stage at Coachella, the two superstars have a long history leading up to their much-anticipated duet.
Below, Billboard has rounded up the timeline of Grande and Bieber’s decade-long friendship.
2010 — Ari and Biebs are photographed together for the first time
The duo’s first recorded photo together seems to have occurred way back in 2010 at Variety’s 4th Annual Power of Youth Event. Back then, Grande was best known for starring as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and was a year away from releasing her debut solo single, 2011’s “Put Your Hearts Up,” while Bieber was still rocking his trademark swooped bangs and crooning hits like “Baby,” “U Smile” and “One Less Lonely Girl.”
2014 — Grande publicly defends Bieber amid public controversy
Following a number of headline-making scandals including egging a neighbor’s house and a Jan. 2014 arrest for driving under the influence, Grande spoke out in Bieber’s defense during a promotional appearance for her My Everything album cycle.
“It’s gotten to a point where I just want him to be okay. It’s this very serious thing. It’s not just like a kid who’s, you know, screwing around; it’s dangerous. It’s very serious and upsetting,” the star told Boston radio station Mix 104.1. “He is the most visible, yet most isolated human being I’ve ever met…I just want him to be okay, that’s all. I just think it’s a serious thing. And I don’t think it’s something to make fun of anymore. I don’t think it’s funny anymore.”
2015 — Bieber releases “What Do You Mean?” remix with Grande
The pair collaborated for the first time on a remix of “What Do You Mean?,” the lead single off Bieber’s smash 2015 comeback album, Purpose. The duet was only available to fans who pre-ordered the album before it was released, and though it isn’t available on streaming services, you can still find the harmony-laden studio version on YouTube.
2015 — Performing together on Grande’s Honeymoon Tour
Bieber made a surprise appearance at the Los Angeles stop of Ari’s 2015 Honeymoon Tour. Taking the stage at the Forum, the pals performed a trio of their hits for the ecstatic crowd, including “As Long As You Love Me” (from Bieber’s 2012 album Believe), “All That Matters” (off his 2013 R&B-influenced Journals project) and Grande’s My Everything duet with The Weeknd, “Love Me Harder.”
2019 — Coachella
A few years later, Grande brought Bieber out of his self-imposed performing hiatus for yet another surprise appearance — this time during Weekend 2 of her headlining set at Coachella 2019. Surprising the crowd at the Indio, Calif.-based festival, Grande admitted, “This was not planned at all,” before ceding the floor for Bieber to perform his 2015 No. 1 hit “Sorry.”
The superstar later credited the experience, as well as Grande’s support, with inspiring him get back into the studio despite announcing an extended break from making music. Nine months later, Bieber made history as the youngest solo artist in history to have seven albums top the Billboard 200 after releasing 2020’s Changes.
May 2020 — A superstar collab is born
The singers announced on Friday (May 1) that they are dropping the joint single “Stuck with U” to benefit the First Responders Children’s Foundation. Check back soon to hear it!
