Please, please, please don’t let Sabrina Carpenter’s performance end.
The “Espresso” singer—who won her first Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album and was nominated for four others, including Album of the Year—had the audience at Crypto.com Arena in the palm of her hand with a gut-busting act. (See the complete winners list from the 2025 Grammy Awards.)
Beginning her number dressed in a sparkly tux jacket, Sabrina fought to find the spotlight, which kept moving as she tried to step into it. Once she finally found her light, she attempted to twirl a baton, but it quickly flew away from her after she fumbled it, leaving her looking slightly embarrassed.
She powered through, though, and began a jazzy version of her Grammy-winning hit "Espresso" while descending from the top of a white staircase. But as she kept walking, she kept descending, eventually becoming hidden behind the front set of stairs.
It was at that moment the audience confirmed that Sabrina was performing a vaudeville-style act, prompting fits of laughter and an eagerness for more.
After she changed into a blue, crystal-covered Victoria's Secret bodysuit, she continued singing "Espresso" with a crew of backup dancers, though her comedic mishaps didn't end. While dancing on a set built to look like a house, the lights began to flicker and one of the walls fell, prompting Sabrina to scream and jump into one of her dancer's arms, who spun her and caused her to giggle.
The rest of her routine featured a mashup with "Please Please Please," dancers falling and running into each other, a tap dance break and countless chuckles from Sabrina and the crowd, which host Trevor Noah quickly noted.
"That was amazing and funny, which I didn't appreciate," the comedian quipped. "You're gonna do funny too, Sabrina? Really? You're just gonna take my job like that?"
And while Sabrina proved she is certainly a pro on stage, she was new to the experience of being a Grammy-nominated artist, as evidenced by the celebrations she and her team had when the nominations were revealed in November.
“Us on the tour bus this morning take a shot every time we scream,” she captioned her Instagram post that included a video of her crew freaking out. “This is the first year I’ve watched the live stream where i heard my name! I’d be lying if i said i hadn’t dreamt about this day my whole life so i am filled with gratitude- Thank you.”
In the video, Sabrina—who was also nominated for Best New Artist, despite having six albums under her belt—also commented on her shock of being among the nominees, joking that she’s “best old artist.”
Though Sabrina’s turn on the Grammys stage was her first—just like her fellow Best New Artist nominees Benson Boone, Chappell Roan and Doechii—her cheeky number was no coincidence, as she loves to engage the crowd with her performances, often with NSFW sets.
In September, the 25-year-old took the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards to perform a medley of songs from her Short N’ Sweet album, bringing along a spacesuit-wearing astronaut and a seductive blue alien. After separating the pair and kicking the astronaut off stage, Sabrina—who was dating Barry Keoghan at the time—planted multiple steamy kisses on the alien, before also kicking her off the stage.
And these headline-making moments weren’t the first time she has leaned into her sexuality on stage. Sabrina also built a reputation throughout her Short N’ Sweet tour—which was attended by multiple stars, including Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley and Saturday Night Live’s Marcello Hernandez—of being a bit risqué during her shows, even miming an NSFW act during her song “Juno” when singing the lyrics, “How you ever tried this one?”
For more of the exciting—and shocking—moments from the 2025 Grammy Awards, keep reading…
Prolific Poets Department
Stealth Deadhead Taylor Swift posed with Bob Weir, a MusiCares Person of the Year in 2025 along with the rest of the Grateful Dead.
Yin and Yang
Charli xcx and Sabrina Carpenter look like a very glamorous version of the devil and angel we all have sitting on either shoulder.
Meet and Greet
Hello, Mr. Shaboozey, I'm Lady Gaga.
Making the Cut
Nikki Glaser now knows, one day you're in, the next you're puckering up to Heidi Klum.
Bustin' a Handshake
Busta Rhymes stopped to say hello to Teddy Swims and take in the art work.
Down Home Fashion
Lainey Wilson may have broken the country girl rules by trading in her boots for sneakers, but they were just so comfy.
Family Dynasties
Alicia Keys' sons Egypt and Genesis got to meet Miley Cyrus, who made a night of it with mom Tish Cyrus.
The Will Smith Pony Club
Willow Smith hitched a ride on a passing father.
Everybody at the Grammys Gettin' Friendly
Olivia Rodrigo wasn't a nominee this year, but she was in it for the socializing with the likes of Shaboozey.
Squad Check
The night was all about fun. for Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley, Taylor and Sabrina.
Birds of a Feather
Sabrina looked pretty thrilled to be sandwiched by Billie Eilish and Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan.
Fresh Princesses
"Please help me, my brother is wearing a castle on his head" is what we're imagining Willow said to Blue Ivy Carter as the pop scions greeted each other at the Grammys.
She Wolf's Cubs
Shakira held her sons Milan and Sasha's hands backstage.
Hello, Dahling
Miley and Latto preened for the cameras.
Up Close and Personal
Billie Eilish's version of smiling for the camera was a little extra.
Grammys Are a Girl's Best Friend
Sometimes Sabrina Carpenter only has time for a short n' sweet hello when she runs into people she knows at places like the Grammys.
The Popular Kids
It was wicked cool to see Paris Hilton and Cynthia Erivo have a moment on the Grammys red carpet.