With the holiday bells jingling, adding symphony to the year-end celebrations, American singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter is gearing up to wow the crowds with her first-ever holiday variety musical – A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter. The singing sensation, who has been around in the American entertainment industry since 2011, shot to global fame this year with iconic hits from her album Short n’ Sweet, which was released on August 23.

Debuting as an actress in 2011 with a guest role on the NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Sabrina Carpenter later rose to fame starring in Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World (2014), a spin-off of 1993’s Boy Meets World. After proving her acting chops, Carpenter released her debut single in 2014, ‘Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying’, which she co-wrote with ‘All About That Bass’ singer Meghan Trainor.

Since then, she has captivated audiences with hit albums, such as EVOLution (2016), Singular: Act II (2019), and Emails I Can’t Send (2022), solidifying her place in the American music industry through a blend of talent and innovative marketing.

Here’s a playlist of our top five favorite tunes from her recent album Short n’ Sweet that you can hum while waiting for her Netflix holiday special to drop on December 6.

Espresso

Labelled as the song of summer, Carpenter’s Espresso became one of the singer’s most massive hits – topping the charts in 20 countries, including Australia, the UK, and India. It also bagged the Song of the Year Award at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

Espresso went viral on social media for its 80s synth-pop and funk genre and catchy lyrics. Sabrina has used Espresso as a metaphor to illustrate the unapologetic boldness needed to embrace quirks and flaws as a defining approach towards self-authenticity. The song is both a celebration of personal strength and a reminder not to take life too seriously, combining lightheartedness with depth.

Please Please Please

Carpenter further solidified her status as this year’s most celebrated global artist with this sensational track. Written by the singer herself, the song broke numerous records and claimed the number-one spot on Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song, which also dominated the international charts of 18 countries, has secured Sabrina her first Grammy nomination in the Song of the Year category.

A blend of country-pop with disco-pop elements, the track delves into the singer’s insecurities about falling in love and being with someone disapproved of by others. The heartfelt lyrics poignantly express her vulnerability— “Please, please, please, don't prove them right. Please, please, please, don’t bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice.”

Taste

Another chartbuster, this was a surprise success, becoming her first number-one single on the Billboard Global 200 chart and her first song to enter the top five on the Billboard Hot 100.

Directed by Dave Meyers, the song’s three-minute-18-second video, features Wednesday star Jenna Ortega and begins with Carpenter singing a haunting lullaby: “Rock-a-bye baby, snug in your bed/Right now you are sleeping, and soon you’ll be dead.” A gory showdown ensues between the two women, who repeatedly come back from the dead. The murder sequences and costume choices also make explicit visual references to cult films like Psycho (1960) and Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003). The song’s music video is inspired by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn's 1992 film Death Becomes Her.

Good Graces

Carpenter's song Good Graces showcases her exploration of '90s R&B influences with a modern twist. The track, which sets clear boundaries in love – emphasising respect and authenticity – blends whispery vocal runs and Miami bass elements. Praised for its buttery textures and rhythmic pop style, the track reinforces Carpenter's growth as an artist.

Good Graces was also a commercial success in the US, earning over 20 million streams within its first week. Internationally, it reached the top five in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Juno

Another notable track on the album, ‘Juno’ debuted on multiple global charts, including the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200 at number 22. The upbeat song is about an intense attraction, which makes Carpenter want to get pregnant (hence, her reference to the 2007 film Juno), where she praises the man's genetics, her own allure, and introduces playful imagery like pink handcuffs. The catchy tune and suggestive lyrics blend sensuality with bold confidence.

Which song do you like best?