Ariana Grande’s Emotional Revelation: Rihanna’s Call for Collaboration and the Baby Number 3 Connection
In a moment that has left fans reeling, Ariana Grande shared a heart-stopping story about receiving a call from Rihanna to collaborate on their first-ever joint single, “Unstoppable,” set for release in June 2025. The announcement, made during a May 25, 2025, interview on The Zach Sang Show, revealed a deeply personal anecdote: Grande, overwhelmed with emotion, “cried and dropped my phone in the coffee shop” when Rihanna reached out. The collaboration, a long-awaited milestone after years of rumored tension, is not only a musical triumph but also carries a poignant connection to Rihanna’s third child, born in 2024. This 1000-word article explores the emotional backstory, the significance of their partnership, and how Rihanna’s journey as a mother of three shaped this chart-destined anthem.
A Coffee Shop Moment That Changed Everything
Ariana Grande, 31, was sipping a soy Cloud Macchiato at a Los Angeles coffee shop in January 2025 when her phone lit up with an unexpected call from Rihanna. Grande recounted the moment vividly: “I saw her name, and my heart stopped. I answered, and she said, ‘Ari, I want you on this track.’ I cried and dropped my phone in the coffee shop—literally into my latte!” The emotional reaction, shared with a laugh on The Zach Sang Show, sparked a frenzy on X, with fans posting, “Ari dropping her phone over Rihanna’s call is so relatable!” and “I’d cry too if Rihanna called me!”
The call was the culmination of a decade of speculation about the two pop icons, who had never collaborated despite sharing Republic Records and dominating charts in the 2010s. Fans had long pointed to a supposed rift, fueled by Rihanna’s absence from Grande’s 2015 events and Grande not attending Rihanna’s 2016 Anti World Tour party. Grande dismissed these rumors, saying, “We’ve always admired each other from afar. Life just got in the way.” The coffee shop moment marked a turning point, uniting two of music’s biggest stars for “Unstoppable,” a Max Martin and ILYA-produced track blending Rihanna’s dancehall edge with Grande’s soaring vocals.
Rihanna’s Motherhood Journey and Baby Number 3
The collaboration’s deeper significance ties to Rihanna’s personal life, particularly her third child. Rihanna, 37, welcomed her first two children, RZA (born 2022) and Riot Rose (born 2023), with A$AP Rocky. In late 2024, she quietly gave birth to her third child, a daughter named Solana Grace, a name revealed in a subtle Instagram post captioned with a sun emoji. Rihanna’s focus on motherhood had slowed her musical output, with only two singles, “Lift Me Up” and “Born Again,” released for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. Her 2023 Super Bowl LVII performance, where she announced her second pregnancy, was a global moment, but fans ached for her ninth album, R9.
Solana’s birth profoundly influenced Rihanna’s return to music. Sources close to the star told Billboard that motherhood, particularly her third child, inspired “Unstoppable.” Rihanna reportedly wrote the song’s empowering lyrics, which include lines like, “We rise, we fall, we keep on going,” as a reflection of balancing her career and family. Grande, who has not yet had children but has spoken about her love for her nieces and nephews, connected with Rihanna’s vulnerability. “She talked about Solana, how this tiny person gave her new strength,” Grande said. “It made the song so real.” Fans on X noted, “Rihanna making ‘Unstoppable’ about her third baby is everything. Ari’s tears make sense now.”
The Making of “Unstoppable”: A Powerhouse Collaboration
“Unstoppable” is poised to be a cultural juggernaut, combining Rihanna’s 250 million record sales and 14 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s with Grande’s 90 million records and nine chart-toppers. The track, described by insiders as a “dancefloor banger with heart,” features Rihanna’s gritty verses and Grande’s whistle-tone runs, produced by Max Martin, who crafted Rihanna’s “We Found Love” and Grande’s “Problem.” A leaked snippet on X praised its “pulsating beat and lyrics about resilience,” predicting it could surpass Grande’s “7 Rings” (15 million streams in 24 hours) and rival Rihanna’s “Work” for chart longevity.
The collaboration began after Rihanna, inspired by Grande’s Eternal Sunshine deluxe reissue topping the Billboard 200 in April 2025, reached out. Grande, fresh off her Golden Globe-nominated role as Glinda in Wicked, was eager to return to music. Their studio session in Los Angeles was electric, with Grande telling Vogue, “Rihanna’s energy is unmatched. We pushed each other to go big.” Rihanna echoed, “Ari’s voice is a gift. She brought Solana’s spirit to the track.” The song’s music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, is rumored to feature Barbados-inspired visuals, tying to Rihanna’s roots and her daughter’s name, meaning “sunshine” in Spanish.
Why Ariana? The Perfect Partner for Rihanna’s Return
Fans have questioned why Rihanna chose Grande over other stars like Beyoncé, with whom she shares a complex history. Beyoncé’s early support helped Rihanna sign with Def Jam in 2005, but rumors of tension—sparked by 2005 affair allegations with Jay-Z and the 2016 Anti leak on Tidal—have persisted. Grande, however, offered a fresh, drama-free partnership. Her pop versatility complements Rihanna’s R&B-dancehall fusion, avoiding the competitive dynamic a Beyoncé collab might bring. Grande’s massive streaming power—105 billion streams, second only to Taylor Swift among female artists—also aligns with Rihanna’s goal to “crash the charts.”
Rihanna’s motherhood experience further shaped her choice. Grande’s emotional openness, seen in songs like “Breathin” about her anxiety and “Ghostin” about grief, resonated with Rihanna’s reflections on parenting. “Ari gets vulnerability,” Rihanna told Rolling Stone. “She understood what Solana meant to this song.” Fans on X agreed, posting, “Ariana’s heart matches Rihanna’s mom energy. Perfect collab!” Grande’s recent personal growth, including her 2023 divorce from Dalton Gomez and relationship with Ethan Slater, also mirrored Rihanna’s journey of balancing love and career.
Fan Reactions and Industry Impact
The coffee shop anecdote has become a fan favorite, with X posts like, “Ari dropping her phone in her latte is iconic. Rihanna’s call changed history!” and “Solana inspiring ‘Unstoppable’ has me in tears.” The song’s pre-save numbers on Spotify are in the millions, and radio stations are clamoring for early access. Industry analysts predict a No. 1 debut, potentially joining Grande’s five and Rihanna’s 14 Hot 100 chart-toppers. A planned performance at the 2025 MTV VMAs is expected to amplify the buzz, with rumors of cameos from Doja Cat or Nicki Minaj.
The collaboration also quashes decade-long feud rumors. Grande addressed this on The Zach Sang Show, saying, “People made up stories, but we’ve always been cool.” Rihanna’s call, prompted by her admiration for Eternal Sunshine, reflects mutual respect. Their shared label, Republic Records, has capitalized on the hype, with a source telling Variety, “This is their moment to redefine pop.”
A New Chapter for Two Icons
“Unstoppable” is more than a song—it’s a testament to Rihanna’s evolution as a mother of three and Grande’s resilience as an artist. Rihanna’s focus on Solana Grace, born in 2024, infuses the track with emotional depth, while Grande’s tearful coffee shop moment captures the joy of their partnership. As one X user put it, “Rihanna picking Ari after baby number 3 is poetic. ‘Unstoppable’ is gonna break us all.”
With R9 rumored for late 2025 and Grande balancing Wicked’s sequel, “Unstoppable” marks a triumphant return for both. The coffee shop call, Solana’s influence, and their shared vision have created a song that’s not just a chart contender but a celebration of strength, family, and music’s power to unite.
