Ariana Grande gives Ricky Alvarez romantic shout-out onstage

Ariana Grande appears to be embracing her renewed romance with Ricky Alvarez, and her latest onstage moment has given fans another reason to believe the pair are closer than ever.

During the final performance of her headline-making Eternal Sunshine Tour on Tuesday, September 1, the 33-year-old singer, actress and songwriter surprised the audience by changing a familiar lyric from her hit song Thank U, Next. The subtle alteration quickly caught attention as Grande appeared to make a romantic reference to Alvarez while performing the track.

In the original 2018 song, Grande sings, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh,” referring to her past relationship with Alvarez. However, during the latest show, she replaced the second line with, “I’m tryna make him my last.”

The unexpected change sparked an enthusiastic reaction from the crowd and added another chapter to Grande’s growing list of public references to Alvarez throughout her tour.

Grande has repeatedly modified the same lyrics during several Eternal Sunshine Tour performances, seemingly using the song as a playful way to acknowledge her relationship with the dancer and choreographer.

During her July 13 concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, she changed the lyrics to, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.” The line appeared particularly meaningful given the couple’s history and their reported reconciliation years after their first relationship.

She made another adjustment during her June 26 performance in Austin, singing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he’s still got my back.” Just two days earlier, on June 24, Grande offered a more lighthearted variation, performing the line, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still kinda slap.”

The repeated references have fueled growing interest in Grande and Alvarez, especially after the pair appeared to take their relationship into a more public phase.

Ariana Grande makes romance more public

Grande and Alvarez first began dating in 2015 before ending their relationship in July 2016. Following their split, the two largely maintained a private dynamic and moved forward with their respective lives.

However, speculation about a possible reconciliation intensified in recent months. On August 12, Grande appeared to make the relationship more public when she included a photo of Alvarez in an Instagram carousel.

Among the images shared by the singer was a sweet moment showing Alvarez with his arm around her. While Grande did not appear to make an extensive statement about their relationship, the inclusion of the intimate photograph was enough to excite fans and spark widespread discussion online.

Her repeated lyrical references during the Eternal Sunshine Tour have only added to the speculation, with fans closely following each new variation to see how she might acknowledge Alvarez next.

Grande prepares for a break from the spotlight

With the Eternal Sunshine Tour now officially wrapped, Grande is preparing to step away from the spotlight for a while.

The tour concluded after a 10-show residency at London’s O2 Arena, which began on June 6 in Oakland. The run marked an important period for Grande as she balanced her music career with her other professional commitments.

The singer has previously spoken about her plans to take a temporary hiatus, making it clear that the decision was intentional and had been considered well ahead of time.

Rather than being motivated by negativity or pressure, Grande described the break as something she had carefully planned. Following an especially busy period filled with performances and other projects, the temporary pause will allow the pop star to take some time away from the constant demands of public life.

As Grande closes the chapter on her latest tour, fans will undoubtedly continue watching for updates about both her career and her renewed relationship with Alvarez.