Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has opened up about the careful planning that goes into her signature surprise song performances, revealing that while they appear spontaneous, there’s always some preparation behind the magic.
The “Espresso” singer appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, December 8, where Meyers asked if audiences genuinely believe she’s caught off guard by her surprise songs.
Carpenter explained, “It’s sort of a surprise for me, but I have options of things that I’ve rehearsed and then I’m surprised by what the option is. That’s good. So there’s a little surprise. There’s a little bit of honesty.”
She added that this method keeps the performance smooth while preserving the element of spontaneity. “In the heat of the show, it’s like Christmas. It’s magical,” she said.
For fans, the Short n’ Sweet Tour includes a “Spin the Bottle” segment, where Carpenter randomly picks a song to perform.
These surprise selections often include covers and deep cuts, from ABBA’s “Mamma Mia” and Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me” to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and Carpenter’s own hits like “15 Minutes.”
This combination of preparation and spontaneity has become a fan-favourite element of her live shows, keeping audiences excited for every unexpected musical moment.