Ariana Grande will no longer appear in “American Horror Story: 13” after all. The pop star has dropped out of the FX anthology series’ upcoming season due to a scheduling conflict with her ongoing Eternal Sunshine tour, according to reports from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline. Sources say Grande did not film any scenes for the season before her departure.
The exit ends months of anticipation for what would have been Grande’s debut in the long-running Ryan Murphy franchise. She was announced as part of the ensemble on Halloween 2025, joining a lineup stacked with franchise veterans. The role would also have reunited her with Murphy following her turn as Chanel Oberlin on his 2015 series “Scream Queens.”
Why Grande Left The Season
According to sources, the show’s production schedule was originally designed to allow Grande to film simultaneously with her tour. However, changes to the shooting schedule ultimately clashed with her set tour dates. Grande kicked off the Eternal Sunshine tour on June 6, and the run is scheduled to conclude September 1 in London. On top of her touring commitments, the Grammy winner is also preparing to release her eighth studio album, “Petal,” on July 31.
Grande had teased her involvement carefully over the past year, telling reporters she expected to play only a small part and that she was grateful simply to join a cast she admired. FX and 20th Television declined to comment on her exit. Her acting profile has risen sharply of late, with starring roles in “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good” placing her firmly in the awards conversation.
What Season 13 Still Has In Store
Even without Grande, the season remains a major reunion. The returning ensemble includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, and Jessica Lange, all reprising past characters. Filmmaker John Waters is also on board, and newly surfaced set photos revealed additional additions including Frances Conroy and Alex Consani. The cast was recently spotted filming in New York City, reviving their “Coven” characters from the show’s third season.
As we covered when “American Horror Story: 13” set its September 24 premiere with Jessica Lange returning to the franchise, the new season debuts on FX with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu. For more on the season and Grande’s departure, you can read Variety’s full report here.
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