Sabrina Carpenter is making waves, and it’s no surprise she’s featured on the TIME100 Next list, highlighting 100 emerging leaders shaping our future. At just 25 years old, Carpenter has become a pop culture phenomenon, and her journey is nothing short of inspiring.
As she settles into a cozy corner of a French restaurant in downtown New York, she orders a cappuccino, playfully hinting at her recent avoidance of espresso drinks after a memorable night of surprise espresso martinis on her last visit. With her striking blonde curls and petite 5-foot frame, Carpenter is hard to miss. This summer, her catchy hit “Espresso” dominated the airwaves, becoming the soundtrack to countless moments. The song, released in April, was her first to hit over a billion streams on Spotify and topped charts globally.
The buzz around her only intensified in June with the release of her music video for “Please Please Please,” which features her rumored boyfriend, Oscar-nominated actor Barry Keoghan. August brought even more excitement as she dropped her genre-blending album Short n’ Sweet, accompanied by a playful music video for “Taste” starring Jenna Ortega. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum shortly after, marking it as one of the year’s biggest releases.
Carpenter has garnered accolades from music icons like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Selena Gomez. Whether you caught her on the season finale of Saturday Night Live, her performance at the VMAs, or as an opener for Swift’s Eras tour, she’s been everywhere. A standout moment for her was when Dan and Eugene Levy joked about her at the 2024 Emmys, a sign she’s reached a whole new level of fame.
We meet up for a chat just over a month after her album launch. Fresh off an 11-hour bus ride from Detroit and with her sold-out tour kicking off, she’s eager for some caffeine. “TMI,” she laughs, explaining she’s in her luteal phase and feeling a bit off. She shares a chocolate mousse for us to enjoy, a little indulgence to accompany our conversation.
Though Carpenter seems to have burst onto the scene, she’s been working hard for 16 years. Growing up in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, she started posting singing videos on YouTube at just 9. Her big break came at 13 with Girl Meets World, a reboot of the beloved Boy Meets World. Interestingly, she signed with Disney’s Hollywood Records at 12, knowing she needed both acting and music to thrive. “I was lucky to have that perspective so young,” she reflects.
From 2015 to 2019, Carpenter released four albums under Disney but struggled to find her footing in the mainstream music scene. “For a long time, I was constantly guided and misguided,” she admits. Yet those experiences shaped her into the artist she is today, better equipped to trust her instincts.
Her 2022 album, Emails I Can’t Send, marked a significant shift. It was a more mature project, showcasing her raw emotions about heartbreak and life outside the Disney bubble. “My last album was f-cking sad, straight up,” she says, recalling the challenges of the pandemic and her desire to embrace mistakes. “If you’re just a little robot angel, you’re going to have regrets later.”
Fans quickly connected her music to their own gossip, especially with tracks like “Because I Liked a Boy,” which seemed to respond to speculation about her relationship with fellow Disney actor Joshua Bassett. The cheeky song left a mark, and “Nonsense,” about getting flustered around a crush, also became a crowd favorite during her tour with Swift. Carpenter’s ability to engage audiences with witty and relatable lyrics kept them coming back for more.
Though she’s still young, Carpenter carries herself with the confidence of a seasoned pro. Her blend of humor, charm, and a touch of sass resonates with fans of all ages. “Call me a Polly Pocket or a Bratz doll, I don’t care,” she laughs, acknowledging her playful image while assuring everyone she’s much more than just a cute face.
Music industry veteran Jack Antonoff, who collaborated with Carpenter on several Short n’ Sweet tracks, has been a fan of her evolution. “She’s crystallized more and more,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in the music biz.
Reflecting on her journey, Carpenter feels she’s finally achieving her childhood dreams. “This year has been a bucket-list moment for me,” she shares, recalling how she literally felt sick with excitement when she learned she’d be on SNL. Performing at the VMAs was another dream come true, something she once thought was far off.
Now, she’s ready to tackle whatever comes next with open arms. “If I could perform at the Grammys, that would make me throw up with excitement,” she admits. With her drive and talent, there’s no doubt she’ll keep making headlines and touching hearts along the way.
