Sabrina Carpenter Reflects on Breakthrough Year: From Touring with Taylor Swift to Controversy with the Catholic Church
Variety’s Hitmakers rising star, Sabrina Carpenter, presented by City National Bank, takes a retrospective look at her transformative year, marked by touring alongside Taylor Swift and facing controversy involving the Catholic Church.
Carpenter’s fifth album, “Emails I Can’t Send,” is described by the 24-year-old artist as a pivotal moment akin to starting afresh. Speaking from Rio de Janeiro, just before opening for Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour,” Carpenter highlights the growth encapsulated in “Emails,” which she reissued as a deluxe version titled “Emails I Can’t Send Fwd” in March.
The former Disney Channel star, known for “Girl Meets World,” experienced a creative renaissance after signing with Island Records, parting ways with her long-time label, Disney-owned Hollywood Records. This transition provided her the freedom to explore and express herself creatively, a liberty she didn’t have in her earlier career.
“Island kind of let me run off and make the album I always dreamt of making that I couldn’t make before,” Carpenter explains, refraining from delving into the political reasons behind her previous constraints. She attributes the success of “Emails” to newfound perspective and a capacity for deeper introspection that maturity brings.
Collaborating with songwriters such as Julia Michaels, JP Saxe, and Leroy Clampitt, Carpenter crafted a collection of shimmering pop tracks that showcased her as a skilled storyteller. Notable among them is the hit single “Fast Times” and “Tornado Warning,” where she explores themes of heartbreak and deception.
Despite the weighty subject matter, Carpenter injects a comedic filter into her music, using humor as a healing element in her life. Fans across social media followed her international headlining tour closely, particularly enjoying her customized performances of the hit song “Nonsense,” where she tailored lyrics to each city.
However, Carpenter’s humor has also landed her in controversy, notably with a Catholic church in Brooklyn where she filmed the blood-soaked music video for “Feather.” The church claimed it had to re-bless the establishment after the video’s release, leading to the removal of a priest from administrative duties.
Carpenter acknowledges that such incidents have contributed to her transformation from the squeaky-clean star of “Girl Meets World” to a sometimes-racy singer, and she embraces this evolution.
Looking ahead, Carpenter released a holiday EP in November and plans to continue her musical journey, fully aware that she is in her reinvention era. After a brief break, she will rejoin Taylor Swift’s tour in February, excited about the unexpected resonance her songs have found with audiences.
“I never would have expected that going on a tour would have amplified the songs the way that it did,” Carpenter reflects. “And I just feel lucky that people have found them in different places and now see them in different lights. I’m just as astounded as anyone else.”
Sabrina Carpenter addresses controversy over filming the “Feather” music video at a Catholic Church in Brooklyn:
“We got approval in advance, and Jesus was a carpenter.” pic.twitter.com/fvtMzqRwFc
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) November 29, 2023