Sabrina Carpenter electrified the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on September 7 with a performance that was as much a celebration of music as it was a statement of solidarity. Taking the stage at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Carpenter debuted her new single "Tears" live, transforming the venue into a vibrant, rain-soaked cityscape reminiscent of her Colman Domingo-featuring music video. Emerging from a manhole—just as she does in the video—she was joined by a dazzling cast of drag performers, including RuPaul’s Drag Race queens Symone, Denali, Willam, Laganja Estranja, and Lexi Love, as well as voguing sensation Honey Balenciaga and Dashaun Wesley, host of Legendary.
The performance was a visual feast, with Carpenter donning a diamond-encrusted bustier and bedazzled black tights, a clear homage to Britney Spears’ iconic 2001 "Baby One More Time" tour look. As rain poured down, Carpenter and her troupe of queens danced and shimmied across the stage, echoing the energy and shimmer of her music video. The stage itself was transformed into a lit-up alleyway, complete with vibrant streetlights and the kind of urban glamour that has become a hallmark of Carpenter’s recent aesthetic.
But the spectacle was about more than just music and choreography. As the performance reached its climax, dancers and queens brandished signs with powerful messages: “Protect Trans Rights,” “Dolls Dolls Dolls,” “Support Local Drag,” “Good Bi,” “Love each other,” and the cheeky yet pointed, “If you hate, you’ll never get laid.” According to Variety and Billboard, these messages were not only a tribute to the drag and trans communities but also a bold stand against discrimination and negativity—a theme Carpenter would later expand upon in her acceptance speech.
Carpenter’s appearance at the VMAs came just a week after the release of her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend. The 38-minute record, recorded in London, New York, and Los Angeles with collaborators Jack Antonoff, John Ryan, and Amy Allen, marked a sonic shift for the 26-year-old star, dabbling in country, R&B, and disco while exploring the complexities of failed relationships and personal growth. In a recent NPR interview, Carpenter reflected on the album’s themes: “How can I be so self-aware and yet so blind and so stupid at the same time? Women are the smartest and the dumbest, in my experience. It’s like they are dumb exactly when they want to be. I think that that’s kind of a theme that I tackle throughout the whole album, just because it’s a little bit more about the reflection of my own choices and these relationships and how I get into them and how I get out of them.” She added, “I think even with my last record, it was sort of like there was a little bit more spite towards people. That hurt my feelings. And I think this one was a little bit more like, you know what? Can’t be that mad because I am putting myself in these positions to kind of experience these things. So yeah, I think it’s just like 2 percent healed, which gives me a lot more room to grow.”
The album’s impact was immediate and record-breaking. Man’s Best Friend debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning 366,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, including 224,000 in traditional album sales—both career highs for Carpenter, according to Billboard. It also topped the UK’s Official Albums Chart on September 5, making it the biggest debut week in 2025 for a female artist by both units and sales. Only Morgan Wallen’s and The Weeknd’s latest releases surpassed it in opening week sales that year. On Spotify, the album shattered the record for the most-streamed album in a single day by a female artist in 2025.
Carpenter’s VMAs night was further gilded with accolades. She was nominated in nine categories, including Video of the Year for her desert-inspired "Manchild" music video, Best Pop Artist, Best Pop, Best Album (for Short n’ Sweet), Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing, and Song of the Summer for "Manchild." She ultimately took home the coveted Album of the Year award for Short n’ Sweet, marking her second Moon Person trophy after winning Song of the Year at the 2024 VMAs.
In her acceptance speech, Carpenter’s gratitude was palpable. Dressed in a sequin fringe gown and Tiffany & Co. jewelry, she thanked her fans for their unwavering support and acknowledged the cast, dancers, and queens who joined her on stage. She didn’t shy away from addressing the broader social context, either. “This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity,” Carpenter said, echoing the messages from her performance. “So to get to be part of something so, often more than not, that is something that can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is [yours], I am so grateful. So grateful to do that. So thanks everyone here, but most importantly, my fans are just, you’ve been there for me, so thank you.”
Carpenter’s advocacy for the queer and trans community was front and center throughout the night, both in her performance and her words. She called out the “criticism and discrimination and negativity” that queer and trans people often face, using her platform to spotlight issues that matter deeply to her. As Rolling Stone and Variety reported, her performance was not only a musical highlight but also a moment of cultural significance, drawing praise for its inclusivity and unapologetic celebration of drag and trans artistry.
The night wasn’t just about Carpenter, though. Lady Gaga also wowed the crowd with her own show-stopping set, performing “Abracadabra” and debuting her Wednesday-inspired track “The Dead Dance” live for the first time. Gaga, who led the night with 12 nominations, walked away with Artist of the Year, besting fellow superstars Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Beyoncé.
As the dust settles on the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, it’s clear that Sabrina Carpenter’s star continues to rise. With a record-breaking album, a performance that blended spectacle with social consciousness, and a message of hope and resilience, she’s not just making pop music—she’s making a statement. And if the response from fans and critics alike is any indication, the world is more than ready to listen.
