2016–2017: Dangerous Woman
Grande began recording songs for her third studio album, Dangerous Woman, originally titled Moonlight, in 2015.[104][105] In October of that year, she released the single "Focus", initially intended as the lead single from the album; the song debuted at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.[106] In January 2016, she launched collaborated makeup collection with MAC Cosmetics, donating 100% of proceeds to the MAC AIDS Fund,[107] and launched a fashion line in collaboration with Lipsy London.[108] The following month, Grande made a cameo appearance in the comedy film Zoolander 2 starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.[109]
In March 2016, Grande released "Dangerous Woman" as the lead single from the retitled album of the same name.[110][111] The single debuted at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first artist to have the lead single from each of her first three albums debut in the top ten.[3] The same month, Grande appeared as host and musical guest of Saturday Night Live, where she performed "Dangerous Woman" and debuted the promotional single "Be Alright",[112] which charted at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.[113] Grande garnered positive reviews for her appearance on the show, including praise for her impressions of various singers,[114][115] some of which she had done on The Tonight Show.[116] Grande won an online voting poll on Entertainment Weekly as the "best host of the season".[117] In May 2016, Grande appeared on The Voice season 10 finale, performing the second single from the album, "Into You", which peaked at number 13 in the United States,[118] and duetted with Christina Aguilera on "Dangerous Woman".[119]
Grande released Dangerous Woman on May 20, 2016, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.[120] It also debuted at number two in Japan,[121] and at number one in several other markets, including Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and the UK.[122][123] Mark Savage, writing for BBC News, called the album "a mature, confident record".[13] At the Summertime Ball at London's Wembley Stadium in June, Grande performed three songs from the album as part of her set.[124] In August, Grande released the third single from the album, "Side to Side", featuring rapper Nicki Minaj, her eighth top ten entry on the Hot 100, which peaked at number four on that chart.[125] Dangerous Woman was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and the title track for Best Pop Solo Performance.[126]
In August 2016, Grande performed a tribute to Whitney Houston on the season finale of the ABC television series Greatest Hits[127] and headlined the opening night of the second annual Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival, performing a nearly hour-long set of her own songs.[128] Aside from music, Grande filmed a commercial for T-Mobile that premiered in October 2016[129] and played Penny Pingleton in the NBC television broadcast Hairspray Live!, which aired in December 2016.[130] The same month, Grande and Stevie Wonder appeared on the season finale of The Voice performing their collaboration "Faith", from the soundtrack of the 2016 film Sing,[131] which was nominated for Best Original Song at the 74th Golden Globe Awards.[132] At the end of the year, she participated in the Jingle Ball Tour 2016.[133]