Ariana Grande changed the lyrics of her song "Thank U, Next" to reference former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez during a concert in Austin, Texas [1], [2].

The move marks a rare public acknowledgement of Alvarez during a live performance, signaling a shift in how the singer addresses her past relationships on stage.

The performance occurred on June 26, 2026 [3], which coincided with Grande's birthday [3]. The event took place during a stop on the Eternal Sunshine Tour [4].

During the set, Grande altered the lyrics of the hit song "Thank U, Next" [5] to specifically name Alvarez, who was present in the audience [6]. The modified lyrics included the line, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he’s still got my back," Grande said [7].

Alvarez has since reacted to the shout-out [3]. While some reports suggest the interaction sparked rumors of a romance reunion, other accounts focus solely on the lyric change [8].

Grande has historically used her music to process high-profile breakups, but the specific naming of Alvarez during this performance deviates from the original recorded version of the track. The Austin show served as a celebratory birthday event for the singer, adding a personal layer to the lyrical improvisation [3].

“"Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he’s still got my back."”

By altering a globally recognized song to include a specific name, Grande is updating the narrative of her public discography in real-time. This interaction suggests a reconciled or amicable relationship with Alvarez, contrasting with the themes of moving on present in the original 2018 release of the song.