Ariana Grande's "Problem" tops the charts, and MTV pegs her as this generation's Britney Spears.

Ariana Grande's "Problem" is as addictive as pop songs get, and the variety in her thick vocal range leaves fans and critics impressed. She's also fresh out of Nickelodeon, which helps her transition from teenybopper themes to more mature ones.

The 21-year-old singer is struggling through a tough break, though: her grandfather passed away last week, leaving her at odds with her climb to fame.

"I personally felt like I've been not as appreciative as I could be of the music success I wanted all my life because I've been distracted by my grandfather and his health and this being such a dark time."

Ariana is already nominated three times at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, and her new album "My Everything" debuts on the same night, August 25. "Bang Bang," a collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Jessie J, is currently a hot item on the iTunes charts.

Ariana Grande's "Problem" has raked in 2.6 million downloads on iTunes to date, and her new single "Break Free" is climbing the radio charts.

Republic Records Chairman Monte Lipman compliments Ariana's talent, evident since she was signed up at 17.

"What's so attractive about Ariana is, No. 1 she's an extraordinary talent, No. 2 she's an exceptional actress, and the third part of it - which makes her a triple threat - is she has this wildly successful fan base on the Internet unlike anything we've seen in some time."

Ariana finds the transition from a TV role to a songwriter a challenge.

"I have a lot of mixed emotions about it because it's easier putting yourself out there as somebody else than it is to put your actual self out there. It took me a long time to embrace that and to become comfortable enough in my own skin and let down that sort of Cat Valentine shield." (foxnews.com)

Watch the music video for Ariana Grande's "Problem" here: