Despite Sabrina Carpenter‘s long-standing presence in the entertainment industry since her 2011 Disney debut, 2024 has truly been her breakout year. Her sixth album, Short n Sweet, has dominated global charts since its release on August 23 and shows no signs of slowing down.
Carpenter’s international recognition soared after opening for Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour in 2023. She left a lasting impression in every country she performed, delivering a dynamic short setlist that included fan favorites like “Nonsense” and “Feather.”
Riding this wave of newfound fame, Carpenter strategically capitalized on her momentum. Her single “Espresso” catapulted her to one of the most-streamed artists of 2024. Now, this rapid ascent has made her eligible for the Best New Artist award at the 2025 Grammys, leaving many fans wondering how this is possible given that she’s been releasing music since 2014.
The criteria behind Sabrina Carpenter’s Best New Artist eligibility at the 2025 Grammy
As The Hollywood Reporter noted, Sabrina Carpenter’s eligibility for the Best New Artist award stems from changes the Grammys committee has made to their strict eligibility criteria over the years. These modifications were introduced to avoid criticism after the previous rules, which disqualified certain performers.
Sabrina Carpenter walks the runway during Vogue World: Paris at Place Vendome on June 23, 2024 in Paris, France. (Source: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images for Vogue)
On the other hand, Billboard highlighted that the Recording Academy bases eligibility on when an artist “achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness,” not on the number of releases they’ve had. By this measure, Carpenter is clearly a strong candidate for the Best New Artist award, given her rapid rise to fame in late 2023.
Carpenter’s fandom has also taken to X to defend her nomination, arguing that her Disney era shouldn’t count toward her music career. They point out that during her time with Hollywood Records, where many teen TV stars with singer potential are signed, her releases were more of a platform jump rather than the fully developed artistic project she aimed to create.
This pivotal moment came when Carpenter signed with Island Records and embarked on a more authentic musical journey with songs like “Skin” and her full-length album Emails I Can’t Send. These projects allowed her to fully express her irreverent and witty lyrics, propelling her to international recognition.
Considering all of this, it seems the Recording Academy is acknowledging Sabrina’s hard work and rise to prominence over the past year, recognizing that her earlier years were more closely tied to her TV career. However, the competition is stiff, with current ballots favoring Chappell Roan as the frontrunner for the award. We’ll see how it plays out!
