Ariana Grande has fuelled speculation that she hopes to marry Ricky Alvarez after altering the lyrics to Thank U, Next during the final London date of her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
Instead of singing the familiar line, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh”, the 33-year-old pop star told the audience at The O2 on Tuesday: “Wrote some songs about Ricky, I’m tryna make him my last.”
The change prompted an enthusiastic reaction online, with fans declaring that “the marriage is coming” and predicting that Alvarez, 35, could soon propose. Others were more cautious, pointing out that Grande has made similar romantic declarations about previous partners.
Grande and Alvarez, a former backing dancer, dated from 2015 to 2016 before rekindling their relationship earlier this year. They recently appeared together in photographs shared on Grande’s Instagram, making their romance public after months of speculation.
The singer has repeatedly amended the Ricky reference during the tour. At a show in Brooklyn on 13 July, she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back”, while earlier performances featured the lines, “I know he still got my back” and “Now they kinda slap.”
The couple’s renewed relationship has also been linked to matching tattoos. Grande appeared to debut the words “I do love you” in delicate lettering on her collarbone during an O2 performance in August. Alvarez has a similar phrase tattooed near his collarbone in a different style.
Although the lyric has intensified speculation, neither Grande nor Alvarez has announced an engagement. People magazine previously reported that the pair were taking their relationship slowly, with Grande said to be happy to have her former partner back in her life.
The London concert marked the end of Grande’s 41-date Eternal Sunshine Tour, which also visited venues across North America and Canada. The Associated Press reported that Grande described the tour as one of the “most beautiful, extraordinary, experiences” of her life as she thanked fans before stepping away from the spotlight.
A representative for the singer said in August that she planned to take a break from public-facing work after the tour, citing the “endless, ongoing public scrutiny” surrounding her career and personal life.
