Pop princess. Chart-topper. Boundary-pusher. Sabrina Carpenter is all of the above — and she’s not holding back. On the cover of Rolling Stone, the 25-year-old singer addresses everything from dropping a new album just a year after her last global hit to boldly defending the sexy, theatrical moments in her live shows that have stirred controversy online.
New Album, No Apologies
Carpenter announced that her upcoming album, Man’s Best Friend, will drop on August 29, barely a year after the release of Short n’ Sweet. Some fans and critics alike are questioning whether she’s releasing music too quickly — a concern she finds amusing.
“If I really wanted to, I could have stretched out Short n’ Sweet much, much longer,” she told Rolling Stone. “But I’m at that point in my life where I’m like, ‘Wait a second, there’s no rules.’ If I’m inspired to write and make something new, I would rather do that.”
And she’s got a point. Carpenter isn’t just riding a wave — she’s driving it. With her tour still in full swing and a dedicated global fanbase, she’s choosing momentum over manufactured mystery.
“Not to be dramatic, but what can I do while my legs still work? I’m limber, let’s use it,” she joked. “My brain is sharp, let’s write. I try not to get sad about the fact that nothing lasts forever, but genuinely, it’s such a beautiful time right now. I want to soak it up and keep making things while I’m feeling this way.”
She also reflected on the tradition of frequent album drops in music history, name-dropping legends like Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, who used to release new music annually without fanfare or drama.
“Writers write, they make music, and they release music,” she said. “Every project is different. It just has to feel right.”
Sexuality on Stage: “Clearly You Love Sex”
Sabrina Carpenter has been making headlines for her on-stage antics during her Short n’ Sweet Tour, where she performs viral hits like “Juno” and “Bad Chem” with cheeky choreography — sometimes mimicking sexual positions and playful encounters with her dancers.
Unsurprisingly, not everyone’s a fan. Some parents, especially those bringing young kids to the shows, have complained about the mature content. But Carpenter is unfazed — and she’s calling out the double standard.
“It’s always so funny to me when people complain,” she said. “They’re like, ‘All she does is sing about this.’ But those are the songs that you’ve made popular. Clearly you love sex. You’re obsessed with it.”
“There’s so many more moments than the ‘Juno’ positions, but those are the ones you post every night and comment on. I can’t control that.”
She explains that her shows are not just about shock value — they also include ballads, introspective tracks, and musical storytelling. But the internet tends to highlight only the spicy bits.
“I find irony and humor in all of that,” she adds. “Because it seems to be a recurring theme. I’m not upset about it, other than I feel mad pressure to be funny sometimes.”
Women in the Spotlight: Still Fighting for Space
Carpenter closed the conversation with a pointed observation about the scrutiny women in the music industry face, especially in the social media age.
“I truly feel like I’ve never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more, and scrutinized in every capacity. I’m not just talking about me. I’m talking about every female artist that is making art right now.”
Whether it’s how much they release, what they wear, or how they perform — female artists often can’t win. But Carpenter is done playing by outdated rules.
She’s young, talented, unfiltered — and definitely not sorry.