The love story of Grande and Ricky Álvarez began in 2015 when he joined the popstar on her Honeymoon Tour as a background dancer.
“We’re happy,” Grande shared with Billboard about her relationship with Álvarez in a May 2016 interview. “I’m a very happy girl. I have a healthy life right now, and I think that’s all anyone cares to know. The end.”
Their romance was brief yet sweet, as the musician and professional dancer ended their relationship just months later in July 2016.
However, brighter days were ahead for the couple, who were spotted together during a June 2026 group lunch at De Nada Cantina in Austin.
The following day, Grande altered the lyrics to her 2018 hit “thank u, next.” While she typically followed the line “Wrote some song about Ricky” with “now I listen and laugh,” at her Austin show, she remarked, “They still really slap.”
Weeks later, she continued to express her feelings during her July 13 concert by singing, “We always find our way back.”
Soon after, he made an appearance on her Instagram feed, with Grande seemingly soft launching their romance on July 27 ahead of the release of her eighth album Petal.
In her post, which featured a clip of herself clinking olives with Álvarez, she captioned it, “petal season continued …….. !”
