Sabrina Carpenter’s 2025 stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena wasn’t just another pop concert—it was a victory lap. By this point, Carpenter had fully crossed the line from promising starlet to full-fledged pop phenomenon, the kind who sells out arenas with ease and commands every inch of the stage with confidence and charisma. Nashville, a city with a complicated relationship to pop music, greeted her with open arms. And she delivered a performance that blended humor, heart, and undeniable talent—proof that she’s not just riding a wave of TikTok virality or chart success, but shaping a generation’s sound in real time.
The energy outside the Bridgestone was electric long before Carpenter hit the stage. Glittered cowboy hats, oversized “Espresso” shirts, and handmade signs filled the plaza—this was an event. By the time the lights dimmed and her opening visuals began to flash across the massive LED screens, the audience was deafening. The night would be divided into thematic acts—“Morning,” “Evening,” and “Midnight”—a clever framing that gave the setlist narrative flow while showcasing the variety in her catalog.
Setlist:
Morning
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Morning
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Taste
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Good Graces
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Manchild
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Slim Pickins
Evening
6. Tornado Warnings
7. Lie to Girls
8. decode
9. Bed Chem
10. Feather
11. Fast Times
12. Busy Woman
13. Sharpest Tool
14. opposite
15. because i liked a boy
16. Coincidence
Midnight
17. Go Go Juice (Spin the Bottle)
18. House Tour
19. Nonsense
20. Dumb & Poetic
21. Juno (Arrested Nicole Kidman)
22. Please Please Please
23. Tears
24. Don’t Smile
Encore:
25. Espresso
Morning – Confidence and Charm from the Start
The concert began with “Morning,” a slow-burn opener that doubled as both a sensual reintroduction and a curtain-raiser. Sabrina emerged onstage in a dazzling silver mini-dress, surrounded by a glowing sunrise projection. Her vocals—clear, agile, and brimming with emotion—immediately filled the arena. The crowd screamed every lyric, and by the time she transitioned seamlessly into “Taste,” the production came alive: flashing lights, moving platforms, and a band that blended live pop instrumentation with glossy electronic layers.
“Good Graces” and “Manchild” hit next, both infused with Carpenter’s signature mix of sweetness and sharp wit. She danced effortlessly across the stage, trading glances with her backup dancers and teasing the audience between lines. During “Slim Pickins,” she paused to laugh. “Nashville, you’re already louder than I was expecting—did someone spike the sweet tea tonight?” It was pure Carpenter—flirty, self-aware, and totally in control.
This opening segment set the tone: Carpenter isn’t just a pop star—she’s an entertainer in the old-school sense. Every gesture, every pause, every eye-roll felt deliberate, but never forced. She has a knack for making arenas feel intimate, as if she’s performing for each individual person instead of thousands.
Evening – The Emotional Core
The “Evening” act shifted the tone, dimming the lights and slowing the pace for a more introspective stretch. The stage transformed into a twilight dreamscape, with purple haze and moonlight projections as “Tornado Warnings” began. The song’s emotional honesty—a confession wrapped in metaphor—felt tailor-made for the Nashville crowd. Her voice cracked slightly on one verse, not from fatigue but from pure emotion. The audience responded with quiet awe, the kind of silence that only happens when a performer truly has them in her hands.
“Lie to Girls” and “decode” followed, both sharp-edged tracks that explore the blurred lines between performance and vulnerability. Here, Carpenter’s stage presence turned cinematic—standing still under a single spotlight, her voice carrying over a minimal piano arrangement. Her dancers retreated, leaving her center stage, her vulnerability front and center.
Then came “Bed Chem,” an instant crowd-pleaser that got the energy rising again. The neon set pieces came back to life, pulsing in sync with the bass, and Sabrina’s sly smile returned. She strutted confidently, owning the song’s sensual playfulness.
“Feather” got one of the night’s biggest reactions—unsurprising, given how much it’s become her signature anthem of empowerment. She leaned into the humor, playfully tossing a pink feather boa into the crowd mid-song. From there, “Fast Times” and “Busy Woman” kept the tempo high, her choreography sharp but natural.
One of the most memorable moments of the night came with “Sharpest Tool.” The song, built around themes of resilience and self-realization, was paired with stunning visuals—mirrors descending from the ceiling, refracting beams of light around the arena. Carpenter used the reflections symbolically, singing lines directly to her own image before shattering the mirror effect on the final chorus. It was theatrical, powerful, and deeply effective.
“opposite” and “because i liked a boy” closed out this segment, and they were among the most emotional performances of the night. The latter, in particular, still hits with raw honesty. Carpenter’s voice cracked again as the audience took over the chorus, turning a song about betrayal and public scrutiny into a communal singalong. She laughed softly at the end, wiping away a tear before saying, “That’s why I love you, Nashville—you make sad songs sound like healing.”
Midnight – Pop Stardom, Unleashed
After a brief blackout, a glowing moon rose on the LED backdrop. The crowd roared as Carpenter reappeared in a sequined midnight-blue outfit, signaling the final act: “Midnight.”
“Go Go Juice (Spin the Bottle)” opened the set’s final stretch with a wink. It was cheeky and fun, with a full dance routine that turned the stage into a neon playground. Carpenter joked mid-song, “This is probably the only time my mom told me to play spin the bottle.” The audience erupted.
The energy built steadily through “House Tour” and “Nonsense,” both showcasing her razor-sharp comedic timing. “Nonsense,” as always, came with an improvised outro that referenced Nashville itself. “It’s so hot, my bangs just quit their job / Nashville, y’all made me a corn on the cob,” she sang, grinning as the crowd screamed in delight. It was peak Carpenter—flirty, clever, and perfectly self-deprecating.
The set’s emotional centerpiece came next: “Dumb & Poetic.” Backed by a simple piano and soft string arrangement, it was her most vocally impressive moment of the night. She delivered it like a confession, eyes closed, completely absorbed in the song’s emotional gravity. When she finished, the arena erupted into a sustained applause that visibly moved her. “You guys are going to make me cry,” she said, laughing through tears.
“Juno (Arrested Nicole Kidman)” snapped the crowd back into high-energy mode. The song’s surreal humor and manic energy turned the arena into a chaotic dance party, complete with flashing lights and projected scenes from old Hollywood films. Carpenter’s ability to balance absurdity and sincerity is rare, and here she pulled it off effortlessly.
“Please Please Please,” her biggest hit of 2025, got a thunderous reception. The audience sang every word, transforming the arena into one massive chorus. The production hit peak spectacle here—massive LED hearts pulsing in sync with the beat, confetti raining down as the final chorus hit.
“Tears” followed as a surprise curveball—a haunting, stripped-down number that gave the crowd a breather. The emotional vulnerability was palpable. Carpenter’s voice, framed by minimal lighting, filled the space with quiet strength.
She closed the main set with “Don’t Smile,” a defiant anthem that perfectly summarized her artistic growth. What began as a playful jab at the expectations placed on young female pop stars has become a statement of empowerment. As she sang, “They told me to smile, I told them I’m fine,” the arena roared in solidarity. The lights faded to black as she walked offstage, leaving only the echo of her voice behind.
Encore – A Caffeinated Finale
The crowd didn’t budge. Chants of “Espresso! Espresso!” filled the air until the lights burst back on, and Carpenter appeared at center stage holding a glittering mug. “I was wondering if you were still awake,” she teased before launching into “Espresso.”
The performance was everything you’d want from an encore—pure fun, no pretense. The entire arena became a dance floor as thousands of fans jumped and sang along. Carpenter didn’t hold back—she laughed, twirled, and even threw a bit of line-dancing flair into the choreography as a wink to Nashville. The band stretched out the outro, letting her bask in the joy of the moment.
As the final notes faded, she blew kisses to the crowd and said, “This city’s got heart. Thank you for letting me share mine tonight.”
A Star in Full Bloom
Sabrina Carpenter’s Bridgestone show was a celebration—not just of her music, but of her evolution. Over the years, she’s transformed from a Disney alum with potential into a pop powerhouse with real artistic identity. What stands out most is how she makes every audience feel seen. She’s funny without being flippant, sexy without trying too hard, and emotionally open without slipping into cliché.
Her voice, once underestimated, has become one of her greatest assets—nimble, expressive, and increasingly powerful. And while her production and visuals were stunning, it was Carpenter herself who carried the night. Every joke, every story, every moment of vulnerability felt authentic.
Nashville is known for demanding authenticity, and Carpenter delivered it in spades. She didn’t just charm the crowd—she earned their respect.
By the time fans poured out into the cool November night, one thing was certain: Sabrina Carpenter isn’t just having a moment. She’s building a legacy—one hook, one joke, and one flawless pop song at a time.
Grade: A