Sabrina Carpenter Dazzles Grammys With Jazzy Debut Performance
After a banner year in 2024, Sabrina Carpenter has kicked off 2025 on a high note with a jazzy and elegant Grammy performance.
The Short N’ Sweet singer was already a 2025 Grammy winner heading into Sunday night’s award ceremony, earning the best pop solo performance award for “Espresso.” She went into the night with six nominations including best new artist and album of the year.
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Carpenter opened her performance with a mashup of her summer hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” the latter of which earned the singer her first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 in June. Both songs hail from Carpenter’s chart-topping album Short N’ Sweet, which landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, also a career first.
“I never expected ‘Espresso’ to be what it essentially became,” the 25-year-old said in a pre-taped package before her performance. The video even included a cute segment of Carpenter sharing how she gets her iconic blowout (she wakes up like that).
Trying to find her spotlight in a quirky bit, the singer channeled old Hollywood for a jazzy version of “Espresso.” Carpenter started the number off in a black Swarovski crystal-encrusted custom black tuxedo-inspired bodysuit by Dolce&Gabbana before ripping it off to reveal a baby blue satin and lace bodysuit embellished with crystals, also by Dolce&Gabbana. She finished the look off with custom Christian Louboutin Pumppie Wallis heels. The star later accessorized with a chiffon shawl, topped with hand-sewn Swarovski crystals and feathers, for “Please Please Please” before diving back into a reprise of “Espresso.”
The performance got a standing ovation from the crowd. Kacey Musgraves was caught on camera gushing over Carpenter’s look. Host Trevor Noah even joked that he didn’t appreciate that Carpenter was also able to be funny in her performance.
Carpenter’s 2025 Grammys performance marks the singer’s first at the music awards show. The “Taste” singer wowed audiences last year with her extraterrestrial Short N’ Sweet mashup at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The 2025 Grammys took over the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the Sunday night ceremony. Noah is hosting for the fifth consecutive time. Taylor Swift, Will Smith, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith, Cardi B, Gloria Estefan, Olivia Rodrigo, Queen Latifah, SZA and Victoria Monét have been announced as presenters.
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