Ariana Grande will not appear in the 13th season of American Horror Story, marking a significant production adjustment for Ryan Murphy’s anthology series as the singer’s touring schedule directly conflicted with the show’s revised filming dates. This exit means Grande, who was announced as a cast member on Halloween 2025 for her first appearance on the Murphy anthology, has not shot any scenes for the season, forcing the production to rely entirely on its returning ensemble of franchise regulars.
Scheduling Turbulence Halts Ryan Murphy Reunion
The decision stems from a direct clash between the show’s production timeline and Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour, which launched June 6 in Oakland. Season 13 began production in April 2026, but a recent change to the show’s schedule created an unavoidable conflict with Grande’s set tour dates. A teaser for the season, subtitled Delicate, released without her, confirming reports that the production shift made her participation impossible. This follows a period of scheduling turbulence for the singer’s live show, including late June rescheduling of three tour dates in Brooklyn and Boston due to production issues on her end.
For Grande, the acting role was secondary to the tour driving her current business momentum. Her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, released in 2024, powered her first headlining run since 2019, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawning two Hot 100 No. 1 singles. Her eighth album, The Boy Is Mine, arrives July 31, led by “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” which recently secured her 10th career Hot 100 No. 1, tying her for the 10th-most in the chart’s history.
FX Season Moves Forward With Core Cast
American Horror Story Season 13 moves forward with a robust returning ensemble that includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, and Jessica Lange, alongside director John Waters. The season reunites several cast members reprising their original characters and is set to premiere September 24 on FX before streaming on Hulu in the United States and internationally on Disney+.
While Grande’s film work is not disappearing—she is set to appear in the Meet the Parents sequel due out this fall—her departure from the horror series highlights the prioritization of live performance revenue over acting detours for top-tier music executives. The production continues without her, maintaining the franchise’s reliance on its established core cast to deliver the season’s narrative.
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