Taylor Swift 'a Mentor' to Sabrina Carpenter (EXCLUSIVE)
Sabrina Carpenter has been close with Taylor Swift for years since idolizing her as a kid and a source exclusively tells Life & Style the “Please Please Please” singer now follows her advice on everything from music to fashion and dating, while offering support and friendship in equal measure.
“In a lot of ways, Taylor is a mentor to Sabrina, she’s someone she looks up to and really admires but it goes a lot deeper than that, they’re genuinely friends,” the insider says. “They text and talk all the time. When Sabrina has a new song that she’s working on she’ll send snippets to Taylor to get her feedback. If she’s got a boy problem or something has upset her, Taylor is one of the first people she calls.”
Sabrina, 25, can trace the roots of her career directly back to being inspired by Taylor, 35, when she was just a girl. The very first YouTube video she posted, at age 10, was a cover of “Pictures to Burn” in 2009. She eventually met her idol in 2017, running into the 1989 singer backstage at a concert. “I have older sisters, so if anything, it felt like that type of a relationship,” the Girl Meets World alum said of Taylor’s friendship afterwards.
In a career-defining moment for the former Disney actress, Taylor plucked her up and had her open for Eras tour dates around the world, bringing Sabrina to new heights. “Sweet angel princess @SabrinaAnnLynn will be joining us on all of the shows!” the “Cruel Summer” singer announced via Instagram just before the South American leg of the tour kicked off.
“I’m not gonna say I peed my pants because that sounds really graphic and maybe not sanitary, but I think it really just caught me off guard,” Sabrina told Who What Wear of the invitation in January 2024. “It was very much a childhood dream come true. I still probably have not processed it if I’m being completely honest with you.”
“They were already friendly when Taylor invited her to open for her on the Eras tour, but spending all that time travelling together really solidified things,” the insider adds. “They’d hang every night after the show and even have slumber parties. Now that Sabrina is out on the road on her own tour Taylor is like a proud big sister. She’s constantly checking in to give her encouragement and advice.”
Living the life her younger self could only imagine, Sabrina also joined Taylor on stage in New Orleans to sing a few duets together. They’ve collaborated a ton since, but that doesn’t mean Sabrina is taking her newfound success and very-much related friendship with Taylor for granted, even after scooping up two Grammys — for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Espresso” and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Short n’ Sweet”.
The insider assures, “It’s not a one-sided friendship, even though Sabrina is ten years younger, she’s very wise so there are times Taylor will go to her for advice, too.”