NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
A source exclusively tells PEOPLE that Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez are \u201ctaking things very slowly\u201d amid their romance reunion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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On Tuesday, July 7, a Grande source told PEOPLE that the pop star spent the Fourth of July weekend with Alvarez and her family in Florida<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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Grande and Alvarez dated from 2015 to 2016<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ariana Grande<\/a> and ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez<\/a> aren\u2019t rushing things.<\/p>\nA source exclusively tells PEOPLE that the pop star, 33, and her former backup dancer, 35, are \u201ctaking things very slowly\u201d amid their romance reunion.<\/p>\n
\u201cAriana has always considered Ricky a friend,\u201d says the source. \u201cShe\u2019s not held ill will against him [since their split]. Ricky is dependable, trustworthy and very supportive. Ariana feels she can be herself around Ricky.\u201d<\/p>\n
The source also says that Grande loves how \u201cfunny\u201d Alvarez is and that \u201cthey have a similar, smart, dry sense of humor.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the pair are enjoying a slower pace when it comes to rekindling things.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not jumping into anything serious right away, but Ari is happy to have him back in her life,\u201d the source says.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\nAriana Grande in January 2026 in L.A.; Ricky Alvarez in February 2025 in New York CityCredit: Emma McIntyre\/WireImage; Sansho Scott\/BFA.com\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
On July 7, a Grande source told PEOPLE<\/a> that Alvarez spent the Fourth of July weekend in Florida with the \u201cHate That I Made You Love Me\u201d artist and her family.<\/p>\n\u201cShe\u2019s having a great time on tour. She loves having close friends join her for parts of the tour,\u201d the source said at the time of Grande, who is currently in the midst of her Eternal Sunshine tour<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe Grande source added that \u201cRicky has always been a friend and confidant and Grande \u201creally trusts him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has such great, positive energy, makes her laugh, and she enjoys spending time with him,\u201d the Grande source said.<\/p>\n
Grande and Alvarez dated from 2015 to 2016, and the three-time Grammy winner famously name-checked him in her 2018 hit \u201cThank U, Next\u201d alongside a handful of other exes, including Big Sean<\/a>, Pete Davidson<\/a> and Mac Miller<\/a>. (\u201cWrote some songs about Ricky \/ Now I listen and laugh,\u201d she sings on the track.)<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Ariana](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/14\/cec21579-3a3d-3e7e-b1fa-916dbbe3007d\/56352947-6d98-438d-b405-15db8c91b1f8.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nAriana Grande and Ricky Alvarez in Jun 2025 in MilanCredit: Robino Salvatore\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Recently, Grande made a sweet lyric change to the line at one of her shows: \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky \/ I know he\u2019s still got my back.\u201d Earlier in the week, she sang, \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky \/ And they still kinda slap.\u201d<\/p>\n
During Grande\u2019s Monday, July 13 concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., which was also notably Alvarez\u2019s birthday, she gave him a special shout-out with another lyric change:<\/a> \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky\/ We always find our way back.\u201d<\/p>\nNever miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\nAt the time, a rep for Grande did not immediately respond to PEOPLE\u2019s request for comment regarding the lyric change.<\/p>\n
A source exclusively tells PEOPLE that Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez are \u201ctaking things very slowly\u201d amid their romance reunion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
On Tuesday, July 7, a Grande source told PEOPLE that the pop star spent the Fourth of July weekend with Alvarez and her family in Florida<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
Grande and Alvarez dated from 2015 to 2016<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ariana Grande<\/a> and ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez<\/a> aren\u2019t rushing things.<\/p>\n A source exclusively tells PEOPLE that the pop star, 33, and her former backup dancer, 35, are \u201ctaking things very slowly\u201d amid their romance reunion.<\/p>\n \u201cAriana has always considered Ricky a friend,\u201d says the source. \u201cShe\u2019s not held ill will against him [since their split]. Ricky is dependable, trustworthy and very supportive. Ariana feels she can be herself around Ricky.\u201d<\/p>\n The source also says that Grande loves how \u201cfunny\u201d Alvarez is and that \u201cthey have a similar, smart, dry sense of humor.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the pair are enjoying a slower pace when it comes to rekindling things.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not jumping into anything serious right away, but Ari is happy to have him back in her life,\u201d the source says.<\/p>\n Ariana Grande in January 2026 in L.A.; Ricky Alvarez in February 2025 in New York CityCredit: Emma McIntyre\/WireImage; Sansho Scott\/BFA.com\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n On July 7, a Grande source told PEOPLE<\/a> that Alvarez spent the Fourth of July weekend in Florida with the \u201cHate That I Made You Love Me\u201d artist and her family.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s having a great time on tour. She loves having close friends join her for parts of the tour,\u201d the source said at the time of Grande, who is currently in the midst of her Eternal Sunshine tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Grande source added that \u201cRicky has always been a friend and confidant and Grande \u201creally trusts him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has such great, positive energy, makes her laugh, and she enjoys spending time with him,\u201d the Grande source said.<\/p>\n Grande and Alvarez dated from 2015 to 2016, and the three-time Grammy winner famously name-checked him in her 2018 hit \u201cThank U, Next\u201d alongside a handful of other exes, including Big Sean<\/a>, Pete Davidson<\/a> and Mac Miller<\/a>. (\u201cWrote some songs about Ricky \/ Now I listen and laugh,\u201d she sings on the track.)<\/p>\n Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez in Jun 2025 in MilanCredit: Robino Salvatore\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Recently, Grande made a sweet lyric change to the line at one of her shows: \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky \/ I know he\u2019s still got my back.\u201d Earlier in the week, she sang, \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky \/ And they still kinda slap.\u201d<\/p>\n During Grande\u2019s Monday, July 13 concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., which was also notably Alvarez\u2019s birthday, she gave him a special shout-out with another lyric change:<\/a> \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky\/ We always find our way back.\u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n At the time, a rep for Grande did not immediately respond to PEOPLE\u2019s request for comment regarding the lyric change.<\/p>\n<\/div>