Ariana Grande Kicks Off Eternal Sunshine Tour in Oakland
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- Ariana Grande kicked off her 'Eternal Sunshine' tour at Oakland Arena on Saturday night, her first tour since wrapping the 'Sweetener Tour' in December 2019 — a six-and-a-half-year gap.
- The 23-song setlist pulled 11 tracks from the 'Eternal Sunshine' album, three from 'Positions' (2021), and two each from 'Thank U, Next,' 'Dangerous Woman,' and 'My Everything.'
- 'Sweetener' was the only Grande studio album with zero songs performed, a conspicuous omission given the prior tour was named for it.
- Resale tickets for upcoming shows start in the $500s for obstructed-view seats, while floor, loge, and club seats are going for over $1,000.
- The 11-city tour concludes with a 10-night stand at London's O2 Arena, and Grande has indicated she is looking to devote herself more fully to acting beyond music.
- The 'Petal' album isn't due until July 31, so only its lead single 'Hate That I Made You Love Me' (released May 29) made the Oakland setlist.
- Lady Gaga appeared via pre-recorded vocals on 'Rain on Me,' a duet that originally appeared on a Gaga album rather than any Grande record.
Why it matters: With resale floor seats above $1,000 and only 11 cities on the itinerary, fans are paying a premium for what may be Grande's last major tour as she chases an acting career. The total absence of 'Sweetener' tracks underscores how decisively she has moved past that era of her catalog.
