Almost a decade after their initial romance, Ariana Grande and her former backup dancer, Ricky Alvarez, are back in the spotlight. The internet is currently buzzing with intense dating rumors following a series of very public hints from the pop star.
Zendaya and Anne Hathaway Lead the Best Dressed Stars at The Odyssey New York City Premiere Coming hot on the heels of Grande’s reported split from her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, this potential reunion has caught everyone by surprise. Yet, looking closely at recent events, it seems the “we can’t be friends” singer might just be finding comfort in a familiar flame.
That Revolutionary Lyric Change
The most obvious piece of evidence comes straight from the stage of Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” tour. During a July 2026 set at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, she offered a big update to her 2018 smash, “Thank U, Next.”
Fans know the original lyrics perfectly: “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh.” But during the Brooklyn show, Grande flipped the script entirely. Instead, she sang: “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.”
The crowd understandably went wild. This wasn’t just a random slip-up, either. Earlier in the summer, during a tour stop in Austin, Texas, she tweaked the same line twice. She playfully sang that he “still got my back” and that those old songs “still kinda slap.” However, the Brooklyn lyric change felt much more intentional, serving as the biggest hint yet that these two are deeply intertwined once again.
Hometown Hangouts and Low-Key Dates
Beyond her sold-out arena shows, the duo has been spending significant downtime together. Over the Fourth of July weekend, paparazzi snapped Grande and Alvarez doing a very normal, low-key grocery run at a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida.
High Potential Season 3 Behind the Scenes Photos Reveal New Details About the Upcoming Episodes It was a highly nostalgic moment for longtime fans, eerily mirroring a similar grocery trip they took in Los Angeles way back in 2015. Sources reported that Alvarez joined Grande to celebrate the holiday weekend with her family in her hometown. This happened right after she wrapped up three massive shows in nearby Sunrise, Florida.
Alvarez hasn’t just been visiting her on holidays, either. He has reportedly been a quiet but consistent fixture on the Eternal Sunshine tour, supporting her from the VIP sections across multiple cities.
Taking Their Second Chapter Slowly
For fans who have followed Grande since the My Everything era, Ricky Alvarez is a nostalgic figure. They first met in 2014 when he was hired as a dancer, officially dated throughout 2015, and eventually split in the summer of 2016. Unlike many messy pop culture breakups, they actually managed to build a genuinely supportive friendship in the years that followed.
Now, in 2026, insiders suggest the two are officially back on, but they are keeping things incredibly grounded. According to sources close to the singer, the couple is taking things very slowly and deliberately. They aren’t rushing into a serious label right away.
America's Got Talent Gives Sofia Vergara Her Second Golden Buzzer After Stunning Aerial Performance Instead, Grande is simply happy to have a trusted, long-time friend by her side as she navigates this new chapter of her life. Whether they are just testing the waters or gearing up for a serious long-term relationship, one thing is completely clear. Sometimes, exes really do find their way back to each other.
Aman Rawat covers entertainment stories across movies, television, streaming platforms, music, celebrities, and pop culture. His reporting keeps readers updated on what’s trending, what’s releasing, and what’s making headlines in the entertainment world.