Ariana Grande may have just given her 'Thank U, Next' lyric the most romantic update yet. During the final show of her Eternal Sunshine Tour in London on 1 September, the singer changed the famous Ricky Alvarez line to: 'I'm trying to make him my last.' And yes, fans immediately lost it.
The lyric tweak comes as Grande and Alvarez appear to have rekindled their romance nearly a decade after first dating. While Grande has not announced an engagement or marriage, her latest change certainly sounds more serious than the playful updates she has made throughout the tour. So, is Ricky really the one she wants to end up with?
Grande Changes Ricky's Lyric Again
The original 'Thank U, Next' lyric about Alvarez is: 'Wrote some songs about Ricky. Now I listen and laugh.' When the song was released in 2018, Grande was looking back on her past relationships, with the line presenting her romance with Alvarez as something she could now laugh about.
Fast-forward to 2026, and the meaning has changed quite dramatically.
Grande has now altered that same section four times during her Eternal Sunshine Tour. In June, she first switched it to 'And they still really slap'. In July, she sang 'I know he still got my back', followed by 'We always find our way back' during another performance.
Then came the biggest change yet in London: 'I'm trying to make him my last.'
Naturally, fans had plenty to say. Some completely melted over the moment, with one user writing: 'So she really wants to settle down with him awwwh 😭.' Others were already wishing the couple the best and hoping it works out. One fan even joked: 'She gonna be married by the end of the year😩😩.'
But the internet was not unanimously convinced.
Some fans teased that Grande has made similar declarations about her relationships before, with one stating: 'I feel like she does this with every boyfriend she's had.' Another pointed to what they see as a pattern of intense romance followed by a breakup.
“Wrote some songs about Ricky, I’m tryna make him my last”
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 1, 2026
— Ariana Grande changes her ‘thank u, next’ lyrics at the final show of her tour. pic.twitter.com/1HyLawyim2
Grande–Alvarez Relationship Timeline
Grande and Alvarez first met through his work as a backup dancer, with their relationship beginning in 2015. The pair dated for around a year before splitting in 2016. Alvarez later became part of Grande's 'Thank U, Next' song when she referenced him in the song.
Their relationship appeared to remain friendly after the split. When the 2018 track was released, Alvarez even joked about receiving what he considered the least flattering lyric in the song.
Almost a decade later, the pair began spending time together again. Grande was seen with Alvarez around her birthday in June, while further sightings fuelled speculation that something romantic was happening. By July, reports said the two had rekindled their relationship but were taking things slowly.
Grande appeared to make things more public in August when she shared photos showing herself with Alvarez, giving fans another reason to believe the former couple were officially back together.
What's Next for Ariana Grande?
Grande made the latest lyric change during the final night of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, which wrapped up at London's O2 Arena on 1 September after 41 shows across North America and the UK. The singer became emotional while thanking fans, describing the tour as one of the most beautiful experiences of her life.
The finale also marked the beginning of a planned break from the spotlight. Grande previously said she wanted to step back from public-facing work after prolonged scrutiny about her body and health.
