Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com
Ariana Grande kicked off her 80-date Sweetener World Tour Monday night at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. But before she took the stage the singer honored her late ex-boyfriend Mac Miller.
Before her set, Grande blasted Miller’s 2016 song “Dang!”. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by her fans. Many fans who were at the show or watching a live stream of the concert tweeted how sweet it was that Grande honored her late ex-boyfriend before taking the stage.
https://twitter.com/needysoulmate/status/1107818537396113409
Ariana grande had Mac Miller’s music playing while people got into their seats for her concert 😭😭😭😭
— Haley (@HaeKolb) March 19, 2019
Ariana grande is playing Mac Miller right before her opening song for sweetener tour rn and my heart can’t handle it SO MANY TEARS
— gabi (@gabidaviss) March 19, 2019
Performers typically curate the pre-show playlist so Miller’s song blasting through the speakers before Grande took the stage is not a coincident. “Dang!” isn’t about Grande, the only song Miller has supposedly written about his ex is “Cinderella.”
Social House and Normani were Grande’s opening acts. Grande’s setlist was a combination of her classic hits and songs from her Thank U, Next and Sweetener albums. She opened the concert with “Raindrops (an Angel Cried)” and ended the show with “Thank U, Next.”
During sound check, it was revealed that her songs “Ghostin” and “Imagine” were left off the setlist because they were too heavy for her to perform.
she said imagine was still to heavy for her to sing live and it’s too soon https://t.co/Icf4gdct5g
— 𝘬𝘺𝘭𝘦 (@fuckontharoof) March 18, 2019
“Imagine” and “Ghostin” were assumed to be about Miller. Grande and Miller dated from 2016 until 2018. They met in 2013 when they collaborated on the song “The Way” together and were friends ever since. They broke up in Spring 2018.
Sadly, Miller died in September 2018 from a drug overdose. Grande hasn’t spoken publicly about the loss too much. After Miller past, she shared a video of him on her Instagram with a sweet message.
“I adored you from the day I met you when I was nineteen and I always will. I can’t believe you aren’t here anymore I really can’t wrap my head around it. we talked about this. so many times. I’m so mad, I’m so sad I don’t know what to do. you were my dearest friend. for so long. above anything else. I’m so sorry I couldn’t fix or take your pain away. I really wanted to. the kindest, sweetest soul with demons he never deserved. I hope you’re okay now. rest.”
Grande’s Sweetener World Tour will span 80 concerts and 17 countries.
