One of pop music’s reigning princesses transformed into a country queen.
Sabrina Carpenter made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Thursday, Oct. 7, hitting the stage at the Opry House in Nashville to perform on the world’s longest-running country music radio show.
Carpenter, who was introduced by a surprise country music legend, performed four of her most-country tracks.
With her trademark sass, honeyed vocals, and of course, an extra layer of twang, Carpenter seemed right at home in the Opry’s storied circle.
Here’s what to know about the pop star’s Nashville night.
Sabrina Carpenter makes her Grand Ole Opry debut at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Oct. 7, 2025.
Who introduced Sabrina Carpenter at the Grand Ole Opry?
The 26-year-old “Espresso” singer joined a packed Opry bill, which included Riders in the Sky, Laci Kaye Booth, Cameron Marlowe, Kaitlin Butts, Marcus King — who brought out Jamey Johnson — and Ernest.
Carpenter was the last artist of the show, and by the time the lineup began reaching its end, the entire crowd was on the edge of their seats.
Then, out walked country royalty Sheryl Crow.
The Opry lowered its red curtains and Crow stood in front of the stage, addressing the crowd.
“I am so pleased to welcome a two-time Grammy Award-winning global superstar whose new album ‘Man’s Best Friend’ debuted at No. 1,” Crow said.
“Making her Opry debut, please welcome Sabrina Carpenter!”
What did Sabrina Carpenter sing at the Grand Ole Opry?
The curtain peeled back to reveal a beaming Carpenter, who was clad in a sparkly black dress and heels.
She kicked off the set with her 2024 hit “Please Please Please,” which soared with thick layers of harmonies alongside Carpenter’s sparkling soprano.
“I just want to say thank you to the Grand Ole Opry for opening your doors to me, to this incredible band,” Carpenter said, adding she was in awe that Crow introduced her.
“I can’t even tell you what that means to me.”
“My mom raised me on the artists that have stood right here like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, of course my favorite, Dolly Parton,” Carpenter said.
“I’m not technically a country girl ’cause I’m from Pennsylvania, but I’ve seen a couple of cows in the middle of the road,” she said. “You guys are my people, too.”
Carpenter hails from East Greenville, a small town an hour outside of Philadelphia with a population of 3,200.
“So much of making my newest album was a pedal steel, a banjo and a dream, so I’m really really lucky to have so many talented people on stage tonight.”
Carpenter performed her recent track “Go Go Juice” from her August album, which included fiery fiddle as she twirled around the stage and belted out: “I’m just drinking to call someone / Ain’t nobody’s safe when I’m a little bit drunk.”
Carpenter sang the (mostly) clean versions of her tunes, adhering to the Opry’s family-friendly environment. Though she’s no stranger to an F-bomb in her tracks, such language has gotten stars banned from the Opry in the past.
“Slim Pickins” followed, another 2024 country-influenced track, before Carpenter closed out with her chart-topper “Manchild,” which had the Opry crowd on their feet, singing along.
“If you’re a fan of country music … I want to give you all my thanks because I know that you guys are very picky,” Carpenter said to the crowd.
She added: “I know you don’t welcome people onto your stage and into your world so easily, but you really raised me with your music. You being fans of this music is what is continuing this legacy and allowing artists to be able to experiment and feel inspired.”
Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist at The Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sabrina Carpenter makes her Grand Ole Opry debut: What did she sing?
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