~Ghostin~ the party of the year? Ariana Grande did not attend the 2019 Met Gala for a very good reason. Considering it’s one of the most exclusive events of the year, it’s a no brainer that the singer would be able to score an invite. However, she had a date with her fans … a tour date, that is.

The 25-year-old already had a May 6 concert scheduled at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for her Sweetener/Thank U, Next tour. She is booked to be in California until the 10th and it would have been extremely difficult for her to fly back and forth between the coasts.

Ariana grande 2018 met gala vera wang gown sistine chapel painting heavenly bodies bow in her hair
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Ariana Grande at the 2018 Met Gala.

The red carpet definitely missed her after she wowed last year in a dreamy over-the-top Vera Wang gown. The showstopper had Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement, which is famously displayed in the Sistine Chapel, printed on it. She was basically a walking work of art and very on point for the “Heavenly Bodies” theme.

Since her tour kicked off, Ariana has been working hard traveling all over the country. She hasn’t attended any award shows or walked any red carpets in quite some time because of her hectic schedule. Most recently, she skipped the 2019 Billboard Music Awards but did perform from a remote location.

Ariana grande 2018 met gala vera wang gown sistine chapel painting heavenly bodies bow in her hair
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Ariana Grande poses with Vera Wang at the 2018 Met Gala.

The former Nickelodeon star has had a tumultuous year with the death of her ex Mac Miller and a very public split from her former fiancé, Pete Davidson. All the ups and downs have led her to where she is and the songbird remains thankful to her fans. “Mmmmk … about to embark on my third tour and am for sure deep as f—k in my feelings,” she began a lengthy Instagram caption in March.

The brunette beauty continued, “But I just want to say how grateful I am for my life, for the people in it, for the ups and challenges, for the laughter and the pain, for this music and for the lifelong friendships I’ve made thru [sic] making it (that includes my friendship with y’all).”

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mmmmk …. about to embark on my third tour and am for sure deep as fuck in my feelings. and getting my period so…. this is probably gonna be too much. but i just want to say how grateful i am for my life, for the people in it, for the ups and challenges, for the laughter and the pain, for this music and for the lifelong friendships i’ve made thru making it (that includes my friendship with y’all)… maaaaaaaan… i cant really fathom all that has happened over the past few years. i don’t even really know where i’m going with this post but i’m just grateful to be here still. and excited to see you. i’m prolly gonna cry a lot. a few months ago i told my team i wasn’t even in an okay enough place to tour or work at all and my friends, you guys and this music really saved my life and turned everything around. i’m still healing but i feel a lot lighter as of late and i think this is really going to be such a beautiful time. thank god we are doing this. i can’t imagine what else i’d do and i want you to know how thankful i am…… anyway. i’m gonna go focus on finishing this show for y’all and put my phone away for a little (how much u wanna bet i don’t last a day) so i don’t ruin all the surprises. thank you. for everything. i am so deeply and eternally grateful. life is wild. but your love and this music make it feel so sweet. love u. 🌑

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“A few months ago I told my team I wasn’t even in an okay enough place to tour or work at all and my friends, you guys and this music really saved my life and turned everything around,” she revealed. Ari has been very vocal about seeking therapy after the tragic Manchester Arena terrorist bombing after her concert in 2017. She noted, “I’m still healing but I feel a lot lighter as of late and I think this is really going to be such a beautiful time.”

Although we miss her on the red carpet, we’re happy to see Ariana making music.