Ariana Grande to Release First Song From ‘Petal’ in May: ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’ Is ‘One of My Favorite Songs I’ll Ever Write’

Ariana Grande has officially announced that "Hate That I Made You Love Me" will serve as the lead single from her upcoming eighth studio album, "Petal." The track is slated for release on May 29. In an Instagram reveal, Grande called the song "One of my favorite songs that I'll ever write," highlighting its profound emotional significance to her. She further shared that the track was "produced by my favorite collaborators and dearest human beings in the world, the brilliant Ilya and the one and only Max Martin (and me)." This marks a reunion with the production duo behind much of her 2024 album "Eternal Sunshine," including the hit "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)." Ilya Salmanzadeh, a Swedish-Persian producer, has worked with artists like Taylor Swift and Sam Smith, while Max Martin—a Swedish pop legend—has shaped chart-toppers for acts ranging from Britney Spears to The Weeknd. Grande concluded her announcement with an affectionate note: "I simply cannot wait for it to be yours."

The album "Petal," co-written and executive produced by Grande alongside Ilya, is scheduled for release on July 31 through Republic Records. When unveiling the project, Grande described it as "Something that is full of life and growing through the cracks of something cold and hard and challenging." This follows a hectic period for the singer, who has been deeply immersed in the "Wicked" film franchise, portraying Glinda in both the 2024 movie and its forthcoming sequel. She also dropped "Eternal Sunshine" and its 2025 deluxe edition, which included additional tracks like "Supernatural." Music industry analyst Sarah Jenkins observes, "This strategic timing suggests Grande is leveraging her recent cinematic exposure to build momentum for her new musical chapter." The "Wicked" films, directed by Jon M. Chu, have already generated considerable buzz, with Grande's performance earning critical acclaim. Notably, Grande's involvement in the franchise has introduced her to a broader audience, potentially expanding her fanbase beyond traditional pop listeners.

While Grande's upcoming tour was initially announced in connection with "Eternal Sunshine" last year, it is now expected to heavily feature material from "Petal." Importantly, Grande has hinted that this could be her last extensive tour for the foreseeable future. During a 2024 conversation on Amy Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast, she explained, "The last 10 or 15 years will look very different to the ones that are coming up. I don't want to say anything definitive. I do know that I'm very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long, long time. I'm going to give it my all and it's going to be beautiful. I think that's why I'm doing it because I'm like, 'One last hurrah!'" This has sparked speculation among fans and industry experts that Grande may shift her focus toward acting or other creative projects following her extensive "Wicked" commitments. The tour, described as intimate and carefully curated, is likely to blend the emotional vulnerability of "Petal" with her earlier hits, providing a retrospective journey through her career. Given Grande's history of selling out arenas, the move to smaller venues could reflect a desire for more personal interactions with her audience. Some analysts suggest this approach might also allow Grande to experiment with more experimental or stripped-down performances, a departure from her previous large-scale productions.