It’s hard to imagine a sad day for Ariana Grande fans coming anytime soon. 2026 will be a banner year for the pop superstar and Oscar-nominated actress, with Grande’s eighth studio album, Petal, releasing on July 31, and a new movie, Focker-in-Law, set to premiere on November 25. Grande is also currently in the middle of her Eternal Sunshine tour, her first concert tour in seven years.
Sadly, it’s Eternal Sunshine, which spans 41 arena shows across North America and London, that has led to Grande’s departure from a highly anticipated project. Last week, Deadlineannounced that Grande would be exiting American Horror Story season 13 due to production scheduling changes conflicting with her tour dates.
American Horror Story season 13, which has an official premiere date of September 24, would be Grande’s debut in the AHS universe. However, it would not be the star’s first time working with prolific TV creator Ryan Murphy. In 2015, Grande appeared in Scream Queens, Murphy’s short-lived satirical horror-comedy series, as the ill-fated Chanel #2.
This is what makes Grande’s departure from American Horror Story so tragic, as it would have provided a Scream Queen reunion with her co-stars, frequent Murphy collaborators Emma Roberts and Billie Lourd, who are part of the season 13 cast. Taking place in New York City, the show’s latest installment will revisit the witches of the fan-favorite American Horror Story season, Coven.
FX Networks · Patient File #001 How Well Do You Know AHS? “All monsters are human.”
🏪Murder HouseSeason 1
🔑AsylumSeason 2
🔮CovenSeason 3
🎪Freak ShowSeason 4
🌉HotelSeason 5
01
In Season 1, the Harmon family moves into the infamous Murder House. What is the name of the latex-suit-wearing ghost who becomes central to the plot?
✓ Correct! Tate Langdon, played by Evan Peters, is the troubled ghost teen who haunts the Murder House. His relationship with Violet Harmon and his dark history as a school shooter made him one of AHS’s most iconic and controversial characters.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Tate Langdon. Played by Evan Peters, Tate is the ghost who wears the rubber suit. Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) is another ghost in the house, Ben Harmon is the father, and Larry Harvey is the burned neighbor.
02
Season 2 takes place in Briarcliff Manor, a mental institution run by the Catholic Church. What is the name of the terrifying nun who rules the asylum with an iron fist?
✓ Correct! Sister Jude, played by Jessica Lange in one of her most acclaimed roles, is the strict disciplinarian who runs Briarcliff. Her complex arc — from cruel authority figure to sympathetic victim of the very institution she controlled — is considered some of the best writing in the series.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Sister Jude. Jessica Lange’s portrayal of the iron-willed nun earned widespread acclaim. Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) becomes possessed by the Devil, Dr. Arden is the sadistic doctor, and Monsignor Howard is the ambitious priest.
03
In “Coven,” the witches of Miss Robichaux’s Academy are searching for the next Supreme. What title is given to the most powerful witch who leads the coven?
✓ Correct! The Supreme is the leader of the coven, possessing mastery of all Seven Wonders of witchcraft. Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) holds the title at the start of the season, but her power is fading as a new Supreme rises among the younger witches.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is The Supreme. The Supreme must master the Seven Wonders — telekinesis, concilium, transmutation, divination, vitalum vitalis, descensum, and pyrokinesis — to claim the title and lead the coven.
04
AHS is famous for reusing actors in different roles each season. Which actress has appeared in more seasons than any other cast member, becoming the show’s most prolific performer?
✓ Correct! Sarah Paulson has appeared in more AHS seasons than anyone else, playing wildly different characters — from Asylum’s journalist Lana Winters to Coven’s two-headed Bette and Dot Tattler to Roanoke’s Shelby Miller. She’s the definitive AHS actress.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Sarah Paulson. While Jessica Lange starred in the first four seasons and Evan Peters appeared in many, Sarah Paulson holds the record for the most season appearances, delivering transformative performances across the anthology.
05
In “Freak Show,” Jessica Lange plays the German-accented owner of one of the last freak shows in America. What is her character’s name?
✓ Correct! Elsa Mars is the glamorous but desperate ringmaster of “Fraulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” set in 1952 Jupiter, Florida. She dreams of Hollywood fame and performs David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” in one of the season’s most memorable scenes.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Elsa Mars. Fiona Goode is Lange’s character in Coven, Constance Langdon is from Murder House, and Sister Jude is from Asylum. Elsa Mars is her Freak Show role — a German émigré chasing stardom in 1950s Florida.
06
Season 5 “Hotel” introduced Lady Gaga to the AHS universe. What is the name of her character, the ancient vampire-like owner of the Hotel Cortez?
✓ Correct! The Countess, also known as Elizabeth, is Lady Gaga’s glamorous and ruthless vampire character. She won a Golden Globe for the role. The Countess collects beautiful lovers, turns children into vampire-like creatures, and has haunted the Hotel Cortez for decades.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is The Countess. Hypodermic Sally (Sarah Paulson) is a ghost in the hotel, Ramona Royale (Angela Bassett) is a rival vampire, and Natacha Rambova is a silent film actress connected to the Countess’s past. Lady Gaga plays The Countess Elizabeth.
07
American Horror Story was created by Ryan Murphy and which other writer-producer, who also co-created “Glee” and “Nip/Tuck” with Murphy?
✓ Correct! Brad Falchuk co-created AHS with Ryan Murphy. The two have been longtime collaborators, also creating Glee and Nip/Tuck together. Falchuk has written and directed many of the series’ most pivotal episodes across multiple seasons.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Brad Falchuk. He and Ryan Murphy are the creative duo behind AHS. Tim Minear is a frequent writer/producer on the show but not a co-creator. Ian Brennan co-created Glee but not AHS.
08
Season 6 “Roanoke” used an unusual format for AHS. What was the show-within-a-show structure that framed the season’s first half?
✓ Correct! Roanoke was presented as “My Roanoke Nightmare,” a true crime documentary show with talking-head interviews and dramatic reenactments. This meant actors played both the “real” people and the actors portraying them in the reenactments — a mind-bending meta twist that divided fans but made it one of the most unique AHS seasons.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is a true crime documentary series. Roanoke was framed as “My Roanoke Nightmare,” featuring real testimonials and dramatic reenactments. The second half flipped the format entirely with a “Big Brother”-style return to the house — making it one of AHS’s wildest structural experiments.
Patient File · Case Closed Your Horror Record
💀
/ 8
Supreme witch — or the first one to die?
Filming for the new season began in NYC in April 2026, with the first look photos for American Horror Story season 13 released earlier this month. However, while Grande exiting the series may be a crushing blow for her fans, there’s still a lot to look forward to come September 24.
American Horror Story Season 13 Still Has A Stacked Cast Despite Grande’s Departure
Mallory Cordelia and Myrtle in American Horror Story Apocalypse
Grande would have undoubtedly been a fantastic addition to the wonderfully weird world of American Horror Story. Still, season 13 isn’t exactly hurting for talent. Roberts will once again play Madison Montgomery, with several other Coven cast members reprising their roles, including Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Goode, Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau, Gabourey Sidibe as Queenie, and Frances Conroy as Myrtle Snow. Kathy Bates will also play one of her previous AHS characters, though it has yet to be confirmed if it will be season 3’s Delphine LaLaurie.
Just as exciting as these familiar faces are the newcomers to American Horror Story, which include model Alex Consani, Avantika Vandanapu (Not Suitable for Work), Joey Pollari (American Crime Story), Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale), and Grace Dumdaw (And Just Like That).
Paul Anthony Kelly, who recently played John F. Kennedy Jr. in the first season of the Murphy-produced Love Story, will also star. Given the polarized response to his Love Story performance, which included a 2026 Primetime Emmy nomination snub, it’ll be fascinating to see how he’s received in another Murphy franchise.
However, perhaps the most exciting addition to the American Horror Story season 13 cast is the iconic “Pope of Trash” filmmaker John Waters. Though his AHS role has yet to be disclosed, the Pink Flamingoes and Female Trouble director said, “I can’t say what role, but I’ve got a big new part in American Horror Story… I’m typecast. I’m always either the devil or Chucky’s father… I’ve always been trying to steal Vincent Price’s career.” (via Baltimore Fishbowl)
Waters is exactly the kind of new blood American Horror Story needs. Though the last season, Delicate, earned modest reviews, one of the biggest criticisms was that it wasn’t campy enough — which shouldn’t be a problem for season 13 with Waters present. Add in the return of the Coven ladies, one of American Horror Story‘s best casts, and the new season is shaping up to be one of the show’s most exciting in years — even if Grande won’t be part of the fun.
