New show series “I Love LA” starring handsome actor Josh Hutcherson has been on a non-stop promo tour.
Visiting The Tonight Show, he revealed that during his Victorious days on the Nickelodeon channel, Hutcherson recounted befriending Grande during their teen years—and her steadfast commitment to pursuing a singing career.
He said: “When I was 15–17, I was friends with a bunch of the cast of Victorious.”
He continued: “I met Ariana multiple times in that day and age. She, one day, told me, ‘I’m a really good singer.’ I was like, ‘I believe you.’ Then she was like, ‘No, I can do the Mariah Carey, like, whistle sing.’ I was like, ‘Really?’ [And she said], ‘Yeah, watch!’ It was like a whole dolphin-voice-sounding thing. I was like, ‘You’re really good!’ She’s like, ‘I’m gonna be a singer too.’ Cut to [present-day] Ariana Grande … she was right!”
Now we wonder what Mariah would have to say about this tale, hmmm.
ICYDK: Hutcherson’s I Love LA is set to premiere in early 2026, with streaming rights locked to Amazon Prime. Grande, meanwhile, is gearing up for her Eternal Sunshine deluxe release, dropping December 2025.
So—Ariana flexing whistle notes at 15? What’s your favorite early memory of her before she hit superstar status? Let us know below!
