Let’s be real for a second. If you were anywhere near a social media feed in early 2021, you knew exactly what was happening, even if you weren't a fan of Disney Channel. It was the "Drivers License" heard 'round the world. Suddenly, a messy teenage situationship became the most analyzed piece of pop culture history since the Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie days. People picked sides. They analyzed lyrics like they were studying for a Bar exam. But now that we’re years removed from the initial fallout, the story of Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo isn't actually about a guy named Joshua Bassett anymore. It's about how two women took a career-defining crisis and turned it into global superstardom.
The narrative back then was simple, maybe a little too simple. Olivia was the heartbroken teenager, and Sabrina was the "blonde girl" who supposedly moved in too fast. It was a classic trope. People love a villain. They love a victim. But looking back at the actual timeline, the reality was way more nuanced than a three-minute pop song.
What Actually Happened with Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo
Social media loves a vacuum. When Olivia Rodrigo dropped "Drivers License" in January 2021, the world rushed to fill the gaps. The song mentioned a blonde girl who was "so much older" and "everything I'm insecure about." At the time, Olivia was 17. Sabrina was 21. Sabrina had been seen hanging out with Joshua Bassett, Olivia’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star. That was the spark. The internet did the rest.
Honestly, the vitriol directed at Sabrina Carpenter during that window was massive. We’re talking death threats and endless "traitor" comments on every single Instagram post. It was a textbook case of how fanbases can weaponize a narrative before hearing the other side. Sabrina eventually released "Skin," which many interpreted as a direct response. Lyrics like "Maybe 'blonde' was the only rhyme" felt like a pointed nod to the drama.
But here’s the thing: neither of them ever explicitly named the other. Not once. They were both playing the game of songwriting, where personal truth meets commercial appeal. While the public was busy screaming in TikTok comments, both artists were actually laying the groundwork for the massive careers they have today.
The "Drivers License" Effect on Pop Culture
You can’t overstate how much that one song changed the industry. Before "Drivers License," Olivia Rodrigo was a promising actress on a Disney+ show. After? She was a record-breaking phenom. The song's success wasn't just about the gossip; it was about the raw, guttural bridge that resonated with anyone who has ever been dumped.
- Sour went on to win Grammys.
- "Good 4 U" became an anthem for the angry-ex phase.
- Olivia became the face of a new generation of pop stars who don't care about being "polished."
Sabrina's path was different. She had been in the industry much longer, having signed with Hollywood Records years prior. For her, the drama was an obstacle she had to climb over. It could have buried her career. Most "other women" in pop culture narratives don't recover. Instead, she signed with Island Records and pivoted. She leaned into the wit. She leaned into the humor. She released Emails I Can't Send, an album that was so vulnerable it forced people to stop seeing her as a caricature and start seeing her as a songwriter.
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Why We Should Stop Comparing Their Success
Comparison is a thief, especially in the music industry. For a long time, the media tried to pit their chart numbers against each other. If Olivia broke a record, people looked to see what Sabrina was doing. It’s a tired cycle.
The truth is, their sounds have diverged so much that comparing them now feels a bit silly. Olivia is carrying the torch for 90s-inspired pop-rock and grunge-lite. Think Alanis Morissette meets Avril Lavigne. Her second album, GUTS, doubled down on that messy, loud energy. She’s the voice of suburban angst and the terrifying experience of growing up in the spotlight.
Sabrina, on the other hand, has carved out a space in "high-fashion pop." Her music is wink-and-a-nod clever. "Nonsense" and "Feather" aren't trying to be deep rock anthems; they’re infectious, disco-tinged pop tracks that showcase her comedic timing. She’s become the queen of the viral outro. She’s playing a character that is self-aware, flirty, and deeply charming.
The Erasure of the Middleman
It’s kind of wild how Joshua Bassett became a footnote in his own story. In the heat of 2021, he was the center of the universe. He also released music—songs like "Lie Lie Lie" and "Crisis"—that tried to explain his side of the mental health toll this took. He eventually spoke out about the intense stress and a health scare (septic shock) that nearly cost him his life during the height of the online hate.
This is the part most people get wrong. They think of this as a "feud" between two girls. In reality, it was three young people caught in a viral whirlwind that none of them were prepared for.
Key Differences in Their Career Trajectories
- Olivia Rodrigo: Rapid-fire ascent. She hit the top of the mountain with her debut single and has stayed there by maintaining a sense of "relatable girl-next-door" authenticity. Her brand is built on the diary entry.
- Sabrina Carpenter: The long game. She spent a decade as a "rising star" before finally exploding into the A-list. Her brand is built on the performance, the aesthetic, and the punchline.
Did They Ever Make Peace?
This is what everyone wants to know. Was there a secret phone call? Did they hug it out at a Met Gala?
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In 2022, they were both spotted at the Met Gala. A photo surfaced of them seemingly having a conversation. The internet exploded again. While they aren't exactly posting selfies together or grabbing coffee in West Hollywood, the tension seems to have evaporated. At some point, you just grow up. You realize that a situation that felt like the end of the world at 18 is just a weird memory at 21.
Sabrina has even talked about how that period of time was "very confusing" and "disturbing" because of the public's perception. Olivia has mostly moved on to talking about her own growth and her new musical inspirations like Jack White and St. Vincent. They’ve both successfully outrun the "drama" label, which is a rare feat in Hollywood.
The Business of Heartbreak
Let’s talk numbers because the business side of this is fascinating. Labels love a narrative. While the pain was real for the people involved, the marketing teams at Geffen and Island certainly knew how to use the momentum.
When you look at the streaming data from 2021-2024, the "overlap" audience for these two is massive. People who listen to Olivia also listen to Sabrina. By being linked in a "rivalry," they actually helped build each other's fanbases. It’s an unintentional synergy. If you like the storytelling of Sour, you’re probably going to appreciate the vulnerability of "Because I Liked a Boy."
Common Misconceptions About the Conflict
A lot of people think Sabrina "stole" Joshua. There’s zero evidence for that. Timelines in Hollywood are notoriously blurry, and "Drivers License" was written months before it came out. By the time the world was hearing about the heartbreak, the people involved had already moved on to different stages of their lives.
Another misconception is that they hate each other's music. In several interviews, both have expressed respect for other women in the industry. The "pop girl war" is largely a construction of Twitter (X) stans who want to treat music charts like a football game.
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What This Teaches Us About Modern Celebrity
The Sabrina and Olivia saga was the first major celebrity feud of the TikTok era. It showed how quickly a narrative can become "fact" through repetition and "easter egg" hunting. It also showed that the "mean girl" trope is still the go-to weapon for the internet when they want to tear down a female artist.
Sabrina’s resilience is actually a masterclass in PR. She didn't disappear. She didn't get bitter (publicly, anyway). She just kept making better music until the music was louder than the gossip. That’s how you win. You make yourself undeniable.
How to Navigate the Music Without the Drama
If you’re just getting into their discographies, it’s best to leave the 2021 Reddit threads behind. You’ll appreciate the artistry more if you aren't trying to map every lyric to a specific person.
- Listen to Olivia Rodrigo for: Catharsis, messy emotions, and loud guitars. Start with GUTS for a more mature sound.
- Listen to Sabrina Carpenter for: Wit, clever lyricism, and perfect pop production. Short n' Sweet is where she really finds her stride.
Actionable Takeaways from the "Drivers License" Era
Don't let the gloss of celebrity fool you; there are real lessons here for how we consume media.
- Check the Timeline: Before joining an online dogpile, remember that songs are often written 6-12 months before release. What feels like a "current" attack is often a reflection on a past version of someone.
- Acknowledge Artist Agency: songwriting is an art form. It's okay to use real life as a springboard for fiction. Not every lyric is a deposition.
- Support Both: The music industry is not a zero-sum game. One woman's success doesn't take away from another's. You can have both Short n' Sweet and GUTS on the same playlist.
- Respect Privacy: While they are public figures, the actual details of their private conversations stay private. Speculation is fine, but treating it as gospel leads to the kind of toxic environments Sabrina dealt with in 2021.
The most impressive part of this whole story isn't the drama itself. It's the fact that in 2026, we're talking about them because they are two of the biggest pop stars on the planet, not because of who they dated in 2020. They changed the subject. That's the ultimate power move.