source: Ariana Grande's Facebook page

Everyone and their mother has probably already heard Ariana Grande song on pop radio by now, but I'm just really loving her song "The Way." As far as I know, she's one of those "Disney kids" (except she's actually from Nickelodeon and turning 20 later this month, though she looks about 15). In the past, I've questioned whether the triple threats Disney has pumped out in the past have actually been triple threats or just shoved down our throats as singer/actor/dancer (or choose your own third talent ... maybe fashion designer?).

I loved Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire, but to say that she could sing well was a huge stretch (and maybe to say that she could act was one, too). The same goes for Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens, and any actor who tried to cash in on "High School Musical"'s success. (What I can tell you is that Hollywood Records has some amazing producers on its roster.) And Nickelodeon's own stars who have gone on to have music careers, or at least attempted them? Well, what do we think of Miranda Cosgrove's songs? And Victoria Justice's? I can't even comment because I haven't ventured to give them a listen.

Maybe Ariana Grande isn't a triple threat -- I've never seen her act, so I can't speak to that, but I do know she can sing. And she's like a baby Cheryl Cole, at least in looks. I stumbled upon her music video for "Put Your Hearts Up" while I was in Taiwan and trying to catch up on American pop music. I thought the music video was cheesy and Disney-esque, but I loved the bubblegum song nonetheless. I'm happy to see that Ariana's music is making its way into the mainstream, like Demi Lovato's music has. Those girls can sing (though enunciating what they're singing and singing without screaming are things they respectively need to work on), and Ariana's voice is especially pleasing to the ear.