Honestly, it feels like everyone just woke up to the fact that Sabrina Carpenter is a powerhouse. For a decade, she was that girl you kinda recognized from Disney or that one song on the radio, but the 2025 and 2026 Grammy cycles officially ended the "underrated" narrative.
It wasn't just about the trophies. It was the way she owned the room. People think she just appeared out of thin air with a cup of espresso in her hand, but if you look at the trajectory of Sabrina Carpenter at the Grammys, it’s actually a masterclass in the "long game." She didn't just show up; she staged a takeover.
The Night Everything Changed: 2025 Highlights
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2025 were basically a Sabrina coronation. She walked into the Crypto.com Arena with six nominations, including the "Big Four" (Album, Record, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist).
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Most people remember the wins, but the performance was the real story. She did this jazzy, theatrical mashup of "Espresso" and "Please Please Please" that felt more like a Broadway production than a standard pop set. There were intentional "mishaps"—a moving spotlight she couldn't catch, a baton she "accidentally" dropped, and a house set that literally fell apart behind her. It was camp. It was funny. It was totally Sabrina.
By the end of the night, she had secured her first two Grammys:
- Best Pop Solo Performance for "Espresso" (won during the Premiere Ceremony).
- Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n' Sweet.
When she took the stage to accept the album award from Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, she was still out of breath. She thanked her mom for driving her to voice lessons in Bala Cynwyd back in the day. It was a rare, raw moment from a star who usually keeps things very "polished."
Why Sabrina Carpenter at the Grammys Still Matters in 2026
If 2025 was the breakthrough, 2026 is the year of the crown. Just when people thought she might take a breather after the Short n' Sweet madness, she dropped Man's Best Friend in August 2025.
The Recording Academy didn't ignore it. For the 2026 Grammys, she pulled another six nominations. This is where it gets interesting because she’s no longer the "new girl" on the block. She’s competing against heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga.
Her lead single "Manchild" is currently a frontrunner for Record of the Year. It’s a shift from the "bubblegum with a wink" vibe of her previous work toward something a bit more biting. Being an announcer for the 2026 nominations alongside Chappell Roan felt like a passing of the torch. She’s part of the furniture now.
The Fashion Evolution: From Cinderella to High-Fashion Satire
You can't talk about Sabrina at the Grammys without talking about the "Blue Dress." In 2025, she wore a custom, backless baby blue silk gown by JW Anderson. It was covered in tiers of tonal feathers and was basically a "Pop Star Cinderella" moment.
The real flex, though? The jewelry. She was literally dripping in 80 carats of Chopard diamonds. There was a 50-carat diamond pendant hanging down her bare back that probably cost more than most people's houses. It was styled by Jared Ellner to reference Shirley MacLaine in the 1964 film What a Way to Go!.
The "Best New Artist" Controversy
There’s still a lot of talk about her losing Best New Artist to Chappell Roan in 2025. Fans were divided, but honestly? It didn't matter for her career.
Losing that specific category often frees an artist from the "sophomore slump" curse. Sabrina had already released six albums by that point. Calling her a "new artist" was always a bit of a stretch anyway, even by the Academy's weird eligibility rules. She used that loss as fuel, and the immediate success of Man's Best Friend proves that the Grammy stage was just a launchpad, not a peak.
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What to Watch for Next
If you’re following the 2026 Grammy cycle, there are a few specific things to keep an eye on regarding Sabrina:
- The Big Three Face-off: Watch how she fares in the Album, Record, and Song categories against Kendrick Lamar’s GNX and Lady Gaga’s Mayhem.
- The Performance Slot: Rumors are swirling about a high-concept performance for "Manchild." Expect more of that signature theatricality.
- Vocal Recognition: After winning Best Pop Vocal Album last year, she’s established herself as a "singer's singer," not just a viral hitmaker.
The reality is that Sabrina Carpenter has spent over a decade building a foundation that can’t be shaken by one awards night. Whether she sweeps the 2026 ceremony or goes home empty-handed, she’s already changed the landscape of pop music by proving that "Short n' Sweet" is a lifestyle, not just an album title.
Keep an eye on the official Grammy telecast on February 1, 2026. It's the final year the show will air on CBS before moving to ABC/Disney, and Sabrina is widely expected to be the center of the broadcast. Check the Recording Academy’s official site for the full list of 2026 nominees to see exactly where "Manchild" landed across the technical categories.