Sabrina Carpenter has proven herself to be one of the most adept pop stars at navigating the tumultuous waters of controversy and public attention. Recently, her album cover for Man’s Best Friend sparked an uproar reminiscent of the infamous Spinal Tap album, Smell the Glove. In the aftermath of this uproar, Carpenter has demonstrated her ability to lean into the attention with humor and grace. Angie Martoccio, who featured Carpenter on the cover of Rolling Stone, remarked, “She’s leaning into it and laughing about it at the same time.” While the cover stirred debate, it also highlighted Carpenter's true passion: music.

In a recent episode of Rolling Stone Music Now, Martoccio delves into Carpenter's musical journey as well as her upcoming album, Man’s Best Friend, which is set for release on August 29. During this episode, Martoccio expressed surprise at Carpenter's deep-seated love for music, stating, “I wasn’t aware that she was a full-on music nerd.” This revelation showcases Carpenter's obsession with the sounds of the 1970s, a period that has greatly influenced her artistry. In her downtime, she immerses herself in classics like Saturday Night Fever and diligently studies the discographies of her favorite artists.

Carpenter's admiration for the iconic Swedish pop group ABBA runs particularly deep. She has taken her fandom to heart by naming her cats Benny and Björn, visiting the ABBA Voyage show multiple times, and even receiving a personalized tour of their museum from Björn Ulvaeus himself. This intimate connection to her musical influences further emphasizes Carpenter's dedication to understanding the roots of pop music.

The interview also reflects on how far Carpenter has come since the days when many viewed her merely as “the blonde girl” from Olivia Rodrigo’s hit song, “Driver’s License.” The media frenzy surrounding the love triangle between the two artists propelled Carpenter into a creative whirlwind, leading her to produce poignant tracks like “Skin” and “Because I Liked a Boy.” These songs served as a cathartic outlet, allowing her to redefine her identity and establish her artistic voice with 2022's E-Mails I Didn’t Send. When Martoccio inquired about her thoughts on that tumultuous time, Carpenter delivered a response reminiscent of the iconic character Don Draper, stating, “I don’t think about it at all.” Interestingly, she was later seen supporting Rodrigo by watching her Glastonbury performance from backstage.

Martoccio's conversation with Carpenter also ventured into the artist’s experiences with public scrutiny. Carpenter admitted to frequently reading online comments about her, including body-shaming remarks and critiques regarding her performances’ sexual content. She described becoming “numb” to much of this feedback, illustrating the toll that public scrutiny can take on a young artist. This emotional landscape is poignantly captured in her song “Needless to Say,” a vinyl-only release that Carpenter shared is especially close to her heart.

For those interested in exploring more about Carpenter's evolving career and upcoming projects, the full interview is available on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, hosted by Brian Hiatt. Listeners can tune in via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or other podcast platforms where they can find a treasure trove of episodes featuring interviews with music legends and discussions that span diverse genres.