2018 has been a difficult year for Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande scores another No. 1 album this year with the release of her third effort Sweetner. Photo: AP

Ariana Grande capped off a successful year as a pop star – but a trying one as a maturing young woman – at the 13th annual Billboard Women in Music event, where she was named Woman Of The Year.

The 25-year-old singer was teary-eyed at times during her acceptance speech as she reflected on her year, which included the end of her relationship with comedian-actor Pete Davidson and the death of her former boyfriend, the rapper Mac Miller. Last year, a bombing at her concert in Manchester killed 22 people.