Ariana Grande has fans paying very close attention to one particular moment in her setlist.
Over the past several weeks, the Grammy-winning superstar has subtly rewritten one lyric in her hit song “Thank U, Next” not once, not twice, but three separate times. Each change has centered around former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, and each update has only intensified speculation that the pair may have found their way back to one another.
Neither Grande nor Alvarez has commented publicly on the rumors, but fans have been piecing together a timeline that’s become increasingly difficult to ignore.
When Thank U, Next was released in 2018, Grande famously opened the song by referencing several of her past relationships. Her lyric about Alvarez quickly became a fan favorite:
“Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh.”
It was a playful nod to their relationship, which lasted from 2015 to 2016, and suggested the pair had remained on good terms after their breakup.
Fast forward to this summer, and that lyric has taken on a life of its own.
During her June 24 concert in Austin, Texas, Grande surprised the audience by swapping out the familiar line for something new.
Instead of singing the original lyric, she performed:
“Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now they kinda slap.”
The crowd immediately noticed the change, and videos quickly spread across social media.
Just one day later, paparazzi photographed Grande and Alvarez spending time together in Austin, adding even more intrigue to the unexpected lyric update.
The changes didn’t stop there.
At her next show on June 26, Grande altered the lyric again.
This time she sang:
“Wrote some songs about Ricky, I know he still got my back.”
Fans also noticed Alvarez was in attendance that evening, watching the concert from the VIP section alongside Grande’s parents.
The combination of his appearance backstage and the revised lyric naturally led to fresh questions about where the pair currently stand.
Since then, the two have continued to be spotted together away from the stage.
During a break in the Eternal Sunshine Tour, Grande returned to her hometown of Boca Raton, Florida, where she spent part of the Fourth of July holiday with Alvarez.
The pair were photographed grocery shopping before heading to her parents’ home for the holiday celebration.
Sources previously told TMZ that there was “nothing romantic between Ariana and Ricky this time around,” describing their renewed connection as a close friendship.
Even so, fans have continued tracking small moments that suggest the relationship may be evolving.
Among the details that recently caught attention: Grande visited Alvarez’s Instagram page and liked every one of his posts.
Then came the latest—and perhaps most revealing—lyric change.
During her July 13 concert in New York City, Grande once again rewrote the opening verse of Thank U, Next.
This time she sang:
“Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back.”
The line immediately sparked another wave of speculation online, with fans debating whether the repeated lyric changes amount to subtle confirmation that the former couple has rekindled their romance.
Others have pointed out that Grande has always enjoyed keeping audiences guessing, particularly during live performances where she occasionally tweaks lyrics or reacts to current events.
At this stage, there’s been no official confirmation that the pair are dating again.
Grande is newly single following the end of her relationship with Ethan Slater, whom she met while filming the two-part Wicked adaptation. Grande stars as Glinda, while Slater portrays Boq in the highly anticipated musical films.
Meanwhile, Alvarez has largely stayed out of the spotlight since his relationship with Grande ended nearly a decade ago, making his recent appearances alongside the singer all the more notable.
