The 2026 Grammys were supposed to be Sabrina Carpenter’s coronation. Instead, they were a cold reminder that being a “main pop girl” isn’t the same as having staying power. Despite walking in with six major nominations—including Album of the Year and Record of the Year—Carpenter left the building empty-handed.

When you’re in a room with Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny, you need more than a gimmick to take home the gold.

The Performance Sabrina Carpenter: Same Girl, Different Costume

Taking the stage for the second year in a row, Sabrina Carpenter gave us an airport-themed rendition of “Manchild”. While the set was elaborate—complete with baggage carousels and male dancers—the act itself felt like a carbon copy of her 2025 appearance.

• The Visual Crutch: Once again, Carpenter relied on her “signature” look: a pantsless pilot outfit, lace-up “booty shorts,” and knee-high boots.

• The Talent Gap: In a year where the competition was fierce, “sexy pilot” didn’t translate to “Artistic Excellence.” The performance leaned heavily on visual distraction rather than vocal or creative evolution.

• The “Bird” Incident: The performance ended with a live white dove landing in her hand—a literal “prop” for a performance that lacked genuine weight.

sabrina carpenter — Sabrina Carpenter attends the Time100 Next event at Current at Chelsea Piers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Why the “Booty Shorts” Strategy Failed

The Recording Academy sent a clear message this year: Outcomes matter more than outfits. * The Losing Streak: Sabrina lost Album of the Year to Bad Bunny and Record of the Year to Kendrick Lamar.

• Pop Category Shutout: Even in the Pop categories, she was edged out by Lady Gaga and Lola Young.

• The Disruption: This is a wake-up call for Carpenter’s team. You can only play the “flirty, retro starlet” card so many times before the industry starts looking for the substance underneath the Swarovski crystals.