Sabrina Carpenter compares meeting Paul McCartney to reverse “But much happier than ‘Stranger Things'”

On December 15, 2024By Littum

Sabrina Carpenter recalled the “beautiful experience” she had when she met Paul McCartney earlier this year.

The singer stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss her Grammy nominations and Netflix Christmas special A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter. Speaking to the late-night host, she looked back on growing up as a huge McCartney fan, how he contributed to her love of songwriting and what it was like meeting the Beatle.

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“I actually just got tears in my eyes, and then he was just so normal and relaxed and so charming,” she told Stephen Colbert of meeting the legendary rock star. “It just felt like I was entering an alternate universe, like the Upside Down vibes Stranger Thingsbut much happier than Stranger Things.”

She continued: “He was so sweet and the one thing I will say about him is every room he walks into, he makes everyone feel seen and heard. And it was such a beautiful experience for me to see it from someone I admired so much. He’s amazing. Yeah, I’m obsessed with him.”

The “Espresso” singer explained that her love for McCartney dates back to her childhood, when her father played her the Beatles song “Rocky Racoon” for the first time.

“I was so fascinated by that song and the songwriting of it that I fell in love with Paul McCartney,” she shared. “I was convinced it was my husband, my future husband. But he was quite old and I was so young that I didn’t realize he was much older than me because I was looking at all these pictures. I thought, ‘No, he’s young. He’s only 10 years older than me.’ I didn’t understand math. So growing up I just fell in love with songwriting.”

Carpenter has been nominated for six Grammys: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. When she attends music’s biggest night on Feb. 2, it will be her first time at the Recording Academy Awards, and that’s on purpose.

She explained to the host that she told herself she didn’t want to be on the show before she was nominated, but she never imagined she would be recognized in so many categories during her first year.

“When you’re young, you just flip it out. I don’t know how to describe it. I’ll probably look back on this moment in five years and be like, ‘Wow, so much happened at once,’ but it’s hard to process it at the moment,” the “Please Please Please” artist said. “I feel so lucky. Singing is all I’ve ever wanted to do. Writing songs is my favorite thing in the world, so to be able to do that and people are listening is sentimental, but it’s a gift , so I am very grateful.”

Carpenter wrapped the first leg of her Short n’ Sweet Tour in Los Angeles in November and begin the international stage in March. Her Christmas special is currently streaming on Netflix.

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