Grande Lyric Changes
Ariana Grande Alters 'Thank U, Next' Lyrics on Tour, Fueling Ricky Alvarez Romance Rumors
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Key Points
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Ariana Grande has used three distinct Ricky Alvarez lyric variants across the Eternal Sunshine Tour: June 24 in Austin with 'Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now they kinda slap,' June 26 with 'Wrote some songs about Ricky / Know he still got my back,' and July 13 in Brooklyn with 'Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back.'
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Alvarez has been on-site and publicly connected to Grande during the tour, with Alvarez attending shows and a Boca Raton Whole Foods sighting; insiders described their relationship as a close bond and said Grande is grateful to have him in her life; fans also saw Alvarez smiling at the June 26 lyric change.
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Current reporting identifies Ethan Slater as Grande's partner, with public documentation of her separation from Dalton Gomez and divorce finalized in 2024; claims of a rekindled romance with Ricky Alvarez are not supported by credible current reporting.
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Grande's work on Wicked continues alongside Eternal Sunshine, with Wicked described as a two-part film and the first installment slated for November 2024, anchoring her recent projects and influencing how fans parse her personal life narrative amid the lyric edits.
Ariana Grande has been quietly rewriting one of her biggest hits — right in front of fans. At multiple stops on her Eternal Sunshine Tour, she has changed the lyrics of 'Thank U, Next' to name her ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, sparking fierce speculation about whether the two are back together. Bellingham Herald reported that Alvarez was present at her Brooklyn show on July 13, where she sang, 'Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back.'
The lyric edits have evolved across three separate shows. In Austin on June 24, she sang, 'Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now they kinda slap.' Two days later, she shifted to, 'Know he still got my back.' By Brooklyn, the line had become the most pointed yet. Fans in the crowd spotted Alvarez smiling during that June 26 change.
Three Shows, Three Lyric Changes, One Name
The pattern started on June 24 in Austin. Grande swapped the original 'Thank U, Next' lyrics to drop Alvarez's name for the first time on this tour. The crowd reaction was immediate. Two days later in her next show, she updated the line again — this time adding a note about loyalty and support, Tri-City Herald reported.
By July 13 in Brooklyn, the lyric had taken its most direct form yet. 'We always find our way back' is a clear step beyond a simple shoutout. SSBCrack News noted that Alvarez was physically present at that Brooklyn show as Grande sang the line. The three versions suggest the changes are deliberate, not accidental.
Alvarez Shows Up at Shows and in Public
Alvarez has not been hiding. Beyond attending concerts, he was spotted with Grande at a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida. Sources close to the pair told Fresno Bee that the two share a close bond and that Grande is genuinely grateful to have him in her life. That framing stops short of calling it a romance — but it is not a denial either.
Fans who attended the June 26 show described seeing Alvarez smile when Grande sang the updated lyric. That moment spread quickly on social media. His visible presence at multiple events has made it hard for observers to dismiss the lyric changes as random or nostalgic.
Where Grande's Romantic Life Actually Stands
Current reporting identifies Ethan Slater — her co-star from the Wicked film — as her partner. Grande's divorce from Dalton Gomez was finalized in 2024. No credible outlet has confirmed a rekindled romantic relationship with Alvarez. The lyric changes and public sightings have fed speculation, but insiders have only described the two as close, not as a couple.
Wicked, the two-part film Grande stars in, had its first installment released in November 2024. The film kept Grande in constant public conversation throughout the year. That backdrop has made fans and media especially eager to read meaning into every onstage choice she makes — including a rewritten line in a four-year-old hit.
Fans Parse Every Word as Tour Continues
The Eternal Sunshine Tour is still ongoing, and each new show brings fresh scrutiny. Grande has now changed the same lyric three times in three different cities. Each version has been slightly more pointed than the last. Fans are treating each performance like a clue, and Alvarez's continued presence at shows keeps the story alive.
Whether the lyric edits reflect a real reunion or simply a public acknowledgment of a trusted friendship remains unclear. What is clear is that Grande is choosing to keep Alvarez's name in the song — and in the spotlight. Until she or Alvarez speak directly about their status, fans will keep watching every word she sings.
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