On Thursday (December 4), Variety named Sabrina Carpenter their 2025 Hitmaker of the Year. In the cover story feature, Carpenter reflects on her breakthrough year filled with career milestones, from winning her first two Grammys, to a sold-out Short N’ Sweet world tour, and hosting and performing on Saturday Night Live. The 26-year-old singer emphatically shed her Disney Channel image with her provocative seventh album, Man’s Best Friend, and risqué live show, which drew complaints from fans who wanted her to maintain her squeaky clean image. “It’s not my fault I got a job when I was 12 and you won’t let me evolve,” she says. The album debuted at No. 1 and earned Carpenter six more Grammy nominations, including Album, Song, and Record of the Year, which sets her up for an even bigger year in 2026. After closing out her tour with a six-night stand in Los Angeles, Carpenter is ready to take a break from the road and focus on her next move. “Music is always going to be my true No. 1, but there’s something really special about playing an incredible role,” she replies. “So I would say No. 1 is music and No. 1½ is acting.” (Variety)
