The lights came up, the crowd roared and out came singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter, in a bath towel that she tastefully dropped to reveal her sparkling pink costume.
“The energy in the arena was electric. Sabrina’s entrance was so fun and really set the tone for the whole show,” said junior Samantha Hart.
On Oct. 2, 16,000 fans filled the XL Center Arena in Hartford, Conn., for Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet Tour.” It was the “loudest crowd so far,” Carpenter said on her Instagram channel after the show.
Before heading up to Connecticut, Carpenter performed two consecutive sold-out shows in New York, making her Madison Square Garden debut and following it up with a performance at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short & Sweet” Tour in Hartford, Connecticut.
Contributed by Olivia Franco, ‘26
Voices of fans filled the arena as they sang along to every song. This energy was captured in videos shared on Carpenter’s official Instagram and TikTok accounts.
Carpenter’s signature look was on full display at the XL Center, featuring platform boots, blonde bangs and glitzy two-piece sets.
“Her costumes were definitely eye-catching. Every outfit was covered in sequins and sparkles. Her hair and makeup were so perfectly done,” said Hart.
Carpenter’s performance showcased not only eye-catching visuals but her wide vocal range.
“Obviously, her regular songs and singing are impressive, but she added in lots of extended high notes, and you could tell she was singing live, which made it that much more impressive,” said Hart.
According to Billboard, “Short n’ Sweet” debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, “sold 362,000 equivalent album units in its first week.” Days after tour tickets went on sale, Carpenter sold out her entire “Short n’ Sweet Tour.”
Carpenter’s fame did not come overnight. At 13 years old, Carpenter landed her first lead role in the entertainment industry. She was cast as Maya Hart on the Disney Channel Series “Girl Meets World,” the Grammy Awards wrote. At age 15, Carpenter released her debut EP, “Can’t Blame A Girl For Trying,” which helped her gain recognition as a singer-songwriter.
In mid-to-late 2023 and early 2024, Carpenter opened for singer-songwriter Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour in Latin America, Australia and Asia.
“I always knew Sabrina Carpenter from the role she played on Disney Channel, but it wasn’t until I saw her open for Taylor Swift live that I truly understood her vocal ability and stage presence as an artist,” said junior Maggie Powers.
Carpenter achieved Platinum status with her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Please Please Please” and No. 3 single “Espresso.” Carpenter included both songs in the “Short n’ Sweet Tour” setlist along with all of her top hits.
Carpenter consistently takes to her social media to thank her fans for their support with members of her fandom calling themselves “Carpenters.”
“The sold-out arena had 16,000 of us, and it didn’t even feel that way. She spent time looking at signs, calling out to an audience member before her song ‘Juno,’ and just talking to us while sitting at the end of the stage,” said Hart.
Carpenter kept things intimate until the end, sharing a video message on the arena’s big screen as fans exit. In the video, Carpenter wishes fans a safe drive home and makes playful remarks.
“I am a big fan of Sabrina because of her ability to connect with her fans and make us feel a part of her personal life. Sabrina’s outro video at the end of the night was definitely my favorite part of the concert because it did just that,” said junior Bridget Carolan.
“I would absolutely see her again and recommend other people do too. I would even love to see the same show again as I had so much fun. Sabrina really puts on a performance, not just a concert,” said Hart.
