Sabrina Carpenter is letting fans in on what’s really going on in her world.
The 26-year-old “Manchild” superstar got refreshingly real in her new cover story for Rolling Stone, where she opened up about everything from her sexuality and relationships to navigating fame, criticism, and the pressures that come with growing up in the spotlight.
On performing, Sabrina revealed the magic that happens when she’s on stage. “I always found that when I was sick or when I was in a lot of pain, once I got onstage, all of [it] went away. I was just like, ‘That’s such a cool little trick that I can do.’ It’s such a cool little superpower.”
When it comes to her sexuality, Sabrina didn’t hold back, addressing the chatter about her and her relationships. “It’s always so funny to me when people complain. 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. It’s in my show. 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. If you come to the show, you’ll [also] hear the ballads, you’ll hear the more introspective numbers. I find irony and humor in all of that, because it seems to be a recurring theme. I’m not upset about it, other than I feel mad pressure to be funny sometimes.”
Sabrina also opened up about navigating fame. “What people probably don’t realize is the more eyes you have on you, the harder it is to love what you’re doing, and you have to keep fighting to still love making things and to still love performing. Because the critical sides start to taint it, and they start to make things less fun. They start to make friendships and relationships less fun and enjoyable. [But] there’s still so much light and goodness in this, if you’re doing it for the reason of you love it and can’t live without it.”
On choosing when to let her hair down, Sabrina said, “People are already so critical of the way I look every other day that when I don’t feel good from the inside out, it’s just a nightmare, and it can get dark out there…but for me, if I’m out with friends and it’s for the plot, let’s do it. By the way, if I’m ever at home alone with a full bottle of wine and no occasion and no one to talk to, call the police.”
As for her relationship status, Sabrina kept it simple: “Am I doing the single thing right now? I’m doing the 25-year-old thing right now, whatever that means.”
She also opened up about healing, growing, and not always having everything together. “In the timespan of a year, you’re able to feel incredible about yourself, terrible about yourself, and everything in between. It’s definitely not always great, and I don’t always feel like I know what’s happening. But right now, today at Palma with this spritz, I feel like I have some clarity on what I want, at least for the near future, which is rare. I’m so lucky to be in a place right now where I feel present.”
Sabrina also addressed trying contrast therapy after her exes turned her on to it. “I really got introduced to this s–t by boys that I’ve dated that I made fun of for doing it…I would always make fun of it, being like, ‘Oh, the cold shower isn’t going to fix your mental health. You need to actually maybe see a therapist.’ But then I tried it, and I was like, ‘You know what? There’s a little something to it.’ Mentally, it’s not getting my life together, but it’s definitely helping my body heal, and it’s helping me have a little bit more clarity and energy. Unfortunately, it’s a cult, but I’m here for it…I have a type, I guess.”
Sabrina also called out the way the media dissects her relationships. “You’re like, ‘That didn’t happen then. That did happen then. You’re missing a few key details there. People underestimate how tricky it is to navigate being a young woman, having relationships, and then having a bunch of strangers have opinions on them. Because surely, all of these people that are commenting, if they had the same microscope on their personal lives, I don’t think they’d be as eloquently spoken as me. I know it’s a tale as old as time. It’s just unfortunate that it’s still a tale.”
On starting a new era, Sabrina explained, “If I really wanted to, I could have stretched out Short n’ Sweet much, much longer. 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. Why would I wait three years just for the sake of waiting three years? It’s all about what feels right. I’m learning to listen to that a lot more, instead of what is perceived as the right or wrong move.”
And when it comes to her lifestyle, Sabrina is all about balance. “I love entertaining, but I also sometimes love shutting the f–k up and being to myself. Observing, reading, watching, and listening. I spend a lot of time in my own head, which is good and bad.”
Lastly, Sabrina is excited about her new album, Man’s Best Friend. “I’m living in the glory of no one hearing it or knowing about it, and so I can not care. I can not give a f–k about it, because I’m just so excited.”
