Pop singer Ariana Grande has concluded her "Eternal Sunshine" world tour, signaling an imminent break from her career. Grande and her boyfriend, Ricky Alvarez, were seen arriving at JFK Airport in New York on Wednesday, appearing to keep a low profile.
Just days prior, Grande, 33, became emotional during the final show of her sold-out 10-date run at London's O2 Arena. While bidding farewell to her fans, she expressed gratitude for the experience and announced her intention to step back from the public eye for the foreseeable future. "This has been one of the most beautiful extraordinary experiences of my life and I just wanted to express my gratitude without sobbing completely," she told the audience, her voice thick with emotion.
Grande's airport appearance involved her wearing a face mask and a baseball cap, walking hand-in-hand with Alvarez, 35. She opted for a casual outfit, including black jeans and a sweater, and wore black boots instead of her usual platform heels due to a recent foot injury. The singer had shared on Instagram that she was recovering from a "deep cut" on her foot, which caused her to limp during some performances.
"It is not a sprain or anything muscular but just a deep cut! So when you see me tonight without my signature heels, or even possibly having a little trouble putting weight on that foot, that is why!" she posted on social media.
The tour, which promoted her latest album "Petal," featured a mix of songs and saw Grande occasionally altering lyrics. Notably, she changed a line in her song "Thank U, Next" from "Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh" to "Wrote some songs about Ricky, I'm tryna make him my last," fueling speculation about her relationship with Alvarez, whom she previously dated from 2015 to 2016 and rekindled her relationship with earlier this year.
The "Eternal Sunshine" tour, promoted by Live Nation, sold over 630,000 tickets across 41 sold-out shows. Grande's decision to step back from the spotlight also means she will withdraw from her starring role in the London production of "Sunday In The Park With George" at the Barbican Centre in summer 2027.
Grande had previously clarified that her career hiatus was "quietly planned a long time ago" and stated that the decision was not driven by external negativity, but rather a need for personal boundaries and rest. "Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes," she explained.