Sabrina Carpenter Takes the Stage at Coachella with Her Hits and a Special Guest
Sabrina Carpenter captivated tens of thousands of fans Friday night at Coachella, expressing her disbelief at headlining the festival. “How you feeling, Sabrinawood?” she asked the enthusiastic crowd. “I can’t believe I’m headlining Coachella. I mean, I can a little bit.”
Making her Coachella debut in 2024, Carpenter, now 26, had promised her fans that she would return as a headliner, and this weekend she delivered. Having achieved two No. 1 singles and received Grammy nominations for her albums, Carpenter’s ascent to pop stardom has been meteoric.
Leading up to the festival, questions arose about whether she would simply replicate her recent performances during her “Short n’ Sweet” tour. Instead, Carpenter unveiled a fresh production: a video introduction depicting her being pulled over by Sam Elliott, who portrayed a police officer, as she drives toward a new life in Hollywood. Following the encounter, she made her entrance at Coachella, walking through a mock Walk of Fame and onto a striking Hollywood Hills set.
The first half of her show spotlighted tracks from her recent albums, including “Please Please Please,” performed in a replica recording-studio booth, and “When Did You Get Hot?” which resonated with echoes of En Vogue’s “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It).” She also revisited an older hit with “Because I Liked a Boy.”
However, the set took an unexpected turn with a long monologue from actress Susan Sarandon, who spoke about the complexities of childhood fame. This segment seemed out of sync with the festival atmosphere, leaving some audience members perplexed. “She better come out in an amazing outfit,” remarked one fan as Sarandon’s appearance delayed Carpenter’s next segment.
When Carpenter returned, clad in leggings and a blue sweater, she performed “Go Go Juice” and “Sugar Talking” in a dance-studio backdrop, then seamlessly transitioned into a snippet of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana (At the Copa)” during “Feather.” Will Ferrell made a cameo as a frustrated stage technician, finding humor in Carpenter’s elaborate demands, though the sketch fell flat for some.
In the final moments, Carpenter closed strong with energetic renditions of “Juno,” “Espresso,” and “Goodbye,” culminating with “Tears,” enhanced by a stunning water show. This finale showcased Carpenter’s ability to blend engaging performances with lavish spectacle.
