Sabrina Carpenter was truly mesmerizing during her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. Modern pop royalty collided with country music history on one of the most famous stages in the world.
Not only did she look stunning, her mic was on!
Carpenter sounded just like she does on the studio album as she brought a country music twist to some of her biggest hits. The 26-year-old even broke into a kazoo solo.
The Grand Ole Opry is the cornerstone of country music.
Founded in 1925 as a radio broadcast, the Opry provided a platform for rural musicians in the South to reach a national audience. It remains today as the longest-running radio show in the United States.
The live performances helped to legitimize country music as a respected and enduring cultural form. It is one of the highest honors in the genre to perform inside “the Circle.”
Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn are some of the most famous artists to really launch their careers on stage at the Opry. Recent members include Lainey Wilson, Scotty McCreery, Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina, Jamey Johnson, Carly Pearce and Lady A.
You get the idea. The Grand Ole Opry is an important piece of music history and no two shows are alike.
With that in mind, Sabrina Carpenter made a point to acknowledge all of the legends who came before her.
“My mom raised me on the artists that have stood up here,” she said. “Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn and, of course, my favorite, Dolly Parton.”
As one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Carpenter joked that she does not consider herself as “country” because she grew up in Pennsylvania. However, she used to live in a part of the country where cows would block the road so it kind of counts.
The former Disney Channel star turned international superstar also made sure to thank country music and its fans for allowing her (and other artists) to dip their toes into the genre. Carpenter knows it is not always the most open-minded genre when it comes to crossovers and wanted to express her gratitude.
“You being fans of this music is what is continuing this legacy and allowing artists to be able to experiment and also just feel inspired,” she said. “It’s really beautiful.”
Her performance was a testament to her genuine appreciation for country music.
Sabrina Carpenter shined.
Riders in the Sky, Laci Kaye Booth, Kameron Marlow, Lukas Nelson, Kaitlin Butts, Marcus King and ERNEST started the night off strong. It was a stacked lineup.
And then, in atypical fashion, the red satin curtain closed as Sheryl Crow introduced the next act.
Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter stepped into the Circle for her Opry debut. Her powerful vocals completely overtook the room on a countryfied version of ‘Please, Please, Please’ as soon as the curtain reopened. She traded the regular synth and drum program for a banjo, fiddle and pedal steel guitar.
Carpenter also performed the live debut of her new song ‘Go Go Juice,’ which featured a kazoo solo.
The studio version of ‘Slim Pickins’ already had a country sound so it fit right in at the Opry. You could hear an audible gasp amongst the older generation when she said “d-bag,” which was very funny.
Sabrina Carpenter brought everybody to their feet to close things out with ‘Manchild.’ As she said, if you are a man who take offense to the lyrics, it is about you!
I was blown away by the entire set. Carpenter is a shining star in whatever genre she chooses. She looked incredible and she sounded even better. I was mesmerized.