Photo: instagram
He is referenced in her latest song.
By Amy Lamare — Written on Dec 26, 2018
Ariana Grande had a heartwarming Christmas. She took to social media on Tuesday to share a screen shot of a FaceTime conversation with her estranged father, Edward Butera. Grande mentioned her dad in the lyrics to her song Thank U, Next which she released in early November. She threw some shade his way over his relationship with her mom Joan. The lyric says, "One day I'll walk down the aisle/ holding hands with my mama/ I'll be thanking my dad 'cause she grew from the drama. Only wanna do it once, real bad. Gon' make that shit last. God forbid something happens. Least this song is a smash" Her parents split when Ariana was just a kid. She had a falling out with her dad in 2013 and told Seventeen magazine in 2014 that it was one of the hardest things she's had to deal with. She said it took a long time for her to be OK with it, "The thing that got me there was embracing the fact that that I am made up of half my dad, and a lot of my traits come from him. So much of me comes from my father, and for so long, I didn't like that about myself. I had to accept that it's okay not to get along with somebody and still love them.' Who is Ariana Grande's dad?
1. He is a graphic designer
Edward Butera lives in Boca Raton, Florida. He is a 60-year-old graphic designer, artist and photographer. He runs his own graphic design studio called ibi designs, inc.
2. Relationship with Ariana's mom
Edwards married Ariana's mom Joan in 1992. The couple moved to Florida in 1993 when she was pregnant with Ariana. Her full name is Ariana Grande-Butera, but she shortens it for her stage name. Edward was also stepdad to the late Frank Grande, Joan's son from a previous relationship. Joan and Edward divorced in 2003 when Ariana was 10 years old.
3. Falling out
Edward and Joan split when Ariana was eight and divorced when she was 10. The 25-year-old singer has been estranged from her dad for most of her adult life. Then on Father's Day 2017, when Grande shared a photo on her Instagram account of her dad holding her as a baby with the caption, "Happy Father's Day. I love you."
4. Her turbulent year
Ariana has had quite a year in 2018. She broke up with rapper Mac Miller in May, just months before his fatal overdose from alcohol, cocaine and fentanyl in September. She also had a high-profile relationship and engagement to Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson that involved matching tattoos. Ariana and Pete split in October, just a few weeks after Miller's death.
5. Moving forward
It looks like the days of Ariana being estranged from her father are nearly over. The two sporadically post photos of each other and them together on their social media accounts.
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. She is deeply devoted to her chocolate Labrador and an avid long distance runner. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.