The nostalgia is real, and the plot is officially thickening. Years after singing about her past relationships in her record-breaking anthem “thank u, next,” beloved global pop icon Ariana Grande has once again rewritten her own history. During the Brooklyn stop of her highly anticipated Eternal Sunshine Tour, the singer sent shockwaves through the audience by dropping a brand-new, incredibly suggestive lyric change about her ex-boyfriend, Ricky Alvarez.
Taking the stage at the Barclays Center on Monday, July 13, 2026, Grande launched into her 2018 smash hit. Fans immediately primed their phones when she approached the famous opening verse referencing her former flames. Originally, the track features the playful shrug: “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh.”
Instead of the standard line, Grande smirked and belted: “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.” The venue erupted into absolute pandemonium, with fans immediately taking to TikTok and X to dissect the massive hint.
This isn’t the first time the 33-year-old vocal powerhouse has toyed with the line during this tour cycle. While performing in Austin, Texas on June 26, Grande sang, “I know he’s still got my back,” while Alvarez himself watched and smiled from the VIP section. Earlier that same week, she playfully teased, “And they still really slap.”
The romantic speculation has been burning hot all summer. The pair who dated between 2015 and 2016 were recently spotted grocery shopping together in Boca Raton, Florida, over the July 4th holiday weekend. Sources close to the singer reveal that the duo has “always shared a close bond,” adding that Ariana is “grateful to have him in her life right now” following her split from Ethan Slater. Whether they are strictly best friends or officially rekindling their romance, Ariana is making sure her fans are fully locked into the journey.
