The internet has a funny way of freezing people in time. For years, if you typed the names Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter into a search bar, you’d get a digital time capsule of 2021: a messy love triangle, a "blonde girl" lyric that launched a thousand TikTok theories, and a lot of teenagers picking sides.
But honestly? It’s 2026. The world has moved on, and so have they.
If you’re still looking for a "feud," you're looking at a ghost. These two are currently the biggest titans in pop, but the way they reached the top—and the way they finally buried the hatchet—is a lot more nuanced than the tabloid headlines ever suggested.
The 2025 Grammys Hug Heard 'Round the World
Let’s talk about the moment that actually broke the spell. It was the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in early 2025. People were expecting tension. Instead, fans caught a glimpse of something that felt like a glitch in the simulation: Sabrina and Olivia actually talking.
They didn't just talk. They hugged.
In the background of a broadcast shot (while Taylor Swift was walking past, ironically enough), Olivia was spotted stopping by Sabrina’s table. There was a brief, warm embrace and a conversation that lasted longer than a simple "hello." It was the ultimate peace treaty. Later that night, Sabrina took home Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n’ Sweet—a trophy Olivia herself won just a few years prior for SOUR.
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Seeing them celebrate in the same room felt like the final chapter of a story neither of them really wanted to write.
Why the "Drivers License" Drama Still Matters (Sorta)
To understand where they are now, you have to remember how suffocating the "Drivers License" era was. When Olivia dropped that song in January 2021, she was a 17-year-old Disney star processing a breakup. When she sang about a "blonde girl" who was "so much older," the internet collectively pointed a finger at Sabrina.
Sabrina was 21 at the time. To a teenager, four years feels like a lifetime. To the public, it was the perfect "hero vs. villain" narrative.
Sabrina eventually responded with "Skin," and later, the more biting "because i liked a boy." In that track, she literally sang about getting "death threats fillin' up semi-trucks." It was heavy stuff. People forget that while the world was enjoying the "drama," these were real people dealing with massive, unearned hate.
The Joshua Bassett Factor
At the center was Joshua Bassett, their High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star. But as of 2026, he's basically a footnote in their biographies. Bassett has since moved on—most recently linked to influencer Amelie Zilber—and both women have had high-profile relationships of their own. Olivia’s long-term connection with actor Louis Partridge and Sabrina’s buzzy (though reportedly ended) era with Barry Keoghan did a lot to shift the focus back to their own lives.
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Two Different Paths to the Top
What’s fascinating is how their careers have diverged. They aren't "competing" because they aren't even in the same lane anymore.
Olivia Rodrigo has become the poet laureate of Gen Z angst. Her GUTS World Tour, which wrapped up in mid-2025, was a masterclass in raw, messy rock-pop. She’s currently teasing her third album (check her website—she recently swapped the GUTS branding for a "driver's license renewal" teaser, which is a top-tier self-referential wink). Her music is about the purge—the screaming, the jealousy, the "all-american bitch" energy.
Sabrina Carpenter, on the other hand, took the scenic route. She was in the industry for a decade before "Espresso" and "Please Please Please" made her a global household name in 2024. Her vibe is "Short n’ Sweet"—it's kitschy, it's wink-and-a-nod humor, and it’s heavily polished. While Olivia is the girl crying in the bathroom at the party, Sabrina is the girl making a joke about it while sipping a martini.
By the Numbers: Sabrina’s 2025 Surge
- Streaming Growth: Sabrina went from 73 million streams in early 2022 to a staggering 1.9 billion by the first half of 2025.
- Chart History: She became the first solo artist to hold three spots in the Billboard Hot 100’s top five simultaneously.
- The "Taste" Factor: In her 2024 hit "Taste," she even joked about the past drama, singing, "I know I've been known to share." It was a sign that she was finally comfortable enough to laugh at the mess.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception? That they hate each other.
In a 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Sabrina was blunt about the old drama: "I don't think about it, ever." Olivia has expressed similar sentiments, once telling Variety that she "resents the narrative" of pitting women against each other over a guy.
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They share a circle of friends now. Both are close with Chappell Roan, who opened for Olivia’s tour and has been spotted hanging with Sabrina at industry events. It’s hard to maintain a "blood feud" when your best friend is the same person.
The Future: Will There Be a Collab?
Fans have been manifesting an "Olivia x Sabrina" track since the 2025 Grammy hug. While there’s no official word, the industry is different now. The "feud" sold records in 2021, but a "reunion" would break the internet in 2026.
For now, they seem content reigning over their respective empires. Olivia is deep in her "Album 3" era, focusing on reimagined SOUR tracks and new material. Sabrina is fresh off the success of Man's Best Friend (her 2025 release) and her massive sold-out arena tour.
How to stay updated on the Olivia and Sabrina era:
- Follow the "Renewal" Teasers: Keep an eye on Olivia Rodrigo’s official site. The transition from GUTS to the "driver's license renewal" theme suggests a 2026 album drop is imminent.
- Watch the Award Circuits: The 2026 award season will likely see both artists nominated in major categories again. Watch for "candid" background moments—that's where the real story usually is.
- Ignore the "Stan War" Bait: If you see a headline claiming "Sabrina shaded Olivia" based on a generic lyric, it’s probably clickbait. These women are savvy business owners now; they know the value of peace.
If you're looking to dive deeper into their current discography, start with Sabrina's Short n' Sweet for the wit, then loop back to Olivia's GUTS (Spilled) for the raw energy. It’s the perfect pop balance.