Ariana Grande gave fans another surprise during her July 13 stop in Brooklyn, once again changing a lyric in “thank u, next” to reference ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez. The updated line arrived just weeks after similar revisions sparked widespread discussion online, continuing one of the Eternal Sunshine Tour’s most talked-about running moments.
Performing at the Brooklyn date of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, Grande sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back,” replacing the original lyric from her 2018 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit.
The latest variation marks the third different Ricky-themed lyric Grande has performed during the current tour. On June 24 in Austin, she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now they still kinda slap,” before changing it two nights later to “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he still got my back.” Both performances generated intense fan speculation, especially after Alvarez attended one of the Austin concerts from the VIP section.
Interest only grew after photos surfaced showing Grande and Alvarez celebrating her birthday with friends at Austin’s De Nada Cantina. Although the dinner fueled rumors of a romantic reconciliation following reports of Grande’s split from Ethan Slater, multiple reports indicated the gathering was simply a birthday celebration among longtime friends. Videos also showed Alvarez greeting Ariana’s father, Edward Grande, reinforcing the friendly relationship they have maintained over the years.
Released in November 2018, “thank u, next” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained atop the chart for seven consecutive weeks, becoming Grande’s first career chart-topper.
The lyric changes also arrive as anticipation continues building for Grande’s seventh studio album, Petal, scheduled for release on July 31. Throughout the Eternal Sunshine Tour, she has gradually teased the project through visual hints, altered setlists, and unexpected onstage moments, while lead single “hate that i made you love me” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her 10th career leader.
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