Ariana Grande has finally addressed one of the biggest questions surrounding her Eternal Sunshine Tour. During her July 25 concert in Boston, the pop superstar explained why songs from her acclaimed 2018 album Sweetener have been absent from the setlist.
Speaking directly to fans at the show, Ariana Grande revealed that the decision came down to one simple reason: “The only reason why it’s not in the show is because it has its own tour.”
The comment quickly spread across social media, where fans have spent weeks wondering why Sweetener—home to favorites such as “no tears left to cry,” “God is a woman,” and “breathin”—was overlooked despite being one of the defining albums of her career. Grande’s explanation suggests she intentionally avoided revisiting that era because it was already fully celebrated during the Sweetener World Tour, which ran throughout 2019.
Instead, the Eternal Sunshine Tour has focused primarily on material from eternal sunshine while also incorporating highlights from other chapters of her catalog.
The revelation arrives at a pivotal moment for Ariana Grande. While continuing the tour, she is preparing to release her eighth studio album, petal, on July 31. The ongoing tour has become a central piece of the album’s rollout, with several unreleased songs already being teased during concerts.
Earlier this month, Grande unveiled preview clips for both the album opener “kiss me” and the title track, “petal.” The latter immediately fueled discussion online thanks to imagery that many fans interpreted as a critique of the entertainment industry. One scene features a casting notice reading, “Major Studios are calling for new faces who can follow direction and have a good personality,” prompting speculation that the visual reflects the pressures artists face throughout their careers.
Those teasers continue the carefully coordinated campaign surrounding petal. Executive produced by Ariana Grande alongside longtime collaborator Ilya, the 12-track project explores themes of healing, resilience, and personal growth. Grande has previously described the record as representing “growing through the cracks of something cold and hard and challenging,” a concept reinforced by the floral imagery used throughout the era.
Excitement has continued to build following the success of lead single “hate that i made you love me,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 to become Grande’s 10th chart-topper. Recent tour stops have also generated viral moments, including lyric changes during “thank u, next” and a surprise appearance by Ty Dolla $ign for a live performance of “Safety Net” in Brooklyn.
Leave a Reply