Even before that announcement, Grande had described the Eternal Sunshine tour – which started in the US in June – as “one last hurrah”, saying she wanted to take more acting roles after her Oscar-nominated performance in Wicked.
That meant her 10 show residency at London’s O2 Arena represented many fans’ last chance to see her in concert.
They flew in from all over the world – from China and Australia and cities all across Europe – with 200,000 people attending the London dates alone.
On the second night, Grande surprised the audience by bringing out her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo for a rendition of their movie duet For Good.
Across the board, reviews were positive.
“There’s no question about it – Ariana Grande is one of the best singers of her generation,” wrote Rolling Stone magazine, external, noting that “there were no signs” of the singer “struggling or not wanting to be there”.
The Telegraph called the show “flawless”, external, praising its “Hollywood-indebted” staging, and Grande’s “genuine affection for Britain”.
My own review highlighted quieter songs like Imperfect For You felt delicate and gorgeous and strangely intimate in a room of 20,000 people.
But Guardian writer Kate Solomon said she was “gripped by genuine concern”, external for Grande, even when she was enjoying the show, adding: “I really hope this tour does not go down in history for the wrong reasons”.
The NME, by contrast, was left breathless by the star’s physical prowess.
“Throughout the show,” marvelled Nick Levine, external, “she skips across the stage in skyscraper heels that most drag performers would baulk at.”
That wasn’t the case on the final night, however, due to what Grande described as a “deep cut” on her foot.
Writing on Instagram, she assured fans the injury wasn’t serious, insisting she was “on the mend” and would complete her final shows “even if I am a few inches shorter than usual”.
She did so with a huge smile spread across her face, leaning into the big notes of Dangerous Woman, and sprinting across the stage during Break Free – one of many up-tempo highlights.
She ended the show as she always does – attached to a harness, ascending into the rafters of the O2 and disappearing.
Fans were left wondering when, if ever, they’d see her perform again.
