Ariana Grande Announces Deluxe Album Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead

Just weeks after wrapping up the final press run for Wicked, Ariana Grande is already back with new music. Days after the 1-year anniversary, Grande announced a deluxe edition of her 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine.

Titled Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead, the expanded edition will include six new tracks, bringing the total to 22—along with the three remixes released last year.

Upon the album’s initial release, Grande shared that its title was inspired by her favorite film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Now, the deluxe version appears to draw even deeper parallels to the film’s themes.

The new cover art trades the original album’s red motif for shades of blue—a shift that mirrors a transformation in the film. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the protagonist’s once-red world turns blue as their memories are erased, also reflected in the music video for “we can’t be friends (wait for your love).”

Ariantors caught on to the new project when the singer’s original Sweetener Instagram account was changed to Brighter Days. “Brighter Days Inc.” was then announced where fans could call a phone number for “memory erasing” services as Grande told them “brighter days” were coming “eventually.”

While no specifics were announced, the singer teased a deluxe version back in January. “It’s a very special project. I’m out there so much right now. I want to let my children miss me for two seconds. I’m excited to surprise them with it at some point, but I’m still mulling over the timing in my head. It’s not the end of ‘Peaches’ just yet, but she’s going in the closet for a minute.”

Although Eternal Sunshine marked a turning point in Grande’s career, with a newly sophisticated production missing from her earlier projects and a depth of lyricism truly resonating with fans and critics alike.

In October, she curated several live and acoustic performances for singles including “imperfect for you,” “supernatural,” “don’t wanna break up again,” “eternal sunshine,” and “we can’t be friends.”

Despite all of the rollouts, videos, and extensions, Eternal Sunshine did not receive the accolades fans thought it deserved. “Yes and?” was nominated for Best Dance Pop Recording and “The Boy is Mine” for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The album itself was only nominated in the Best Pop Vocal Album category, notably beat out by Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet. 

While noticeably snubbed from Album of the Year, fans hope this new chapter is just as sonically healing as the first. 

Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead drops on March 28. You can pre-save the deluxe edition here.