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Sabrina Carpenter Explains the Humor Behind Her Famous, Controversial Ad-Libs Lyrics

The singer’s lighthearted and quirky ‘Nonsense’ freestyle outros have taken TikTok by storm.

Ananya Panchal

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter.

Sabrina Carpenter was already famous before she went on her “Emails I Can’t Send Tour,” but her quirky ad-libs are being talked about everywhere. The Girl Meets World actress released her fifth studio album last July, and though it came several years after her 2015 debut, Eyes Wide Open, the singer described Emails as her “first big-girl” record.

The Pennsylvania native kicked off her tour at the end last September in Atlanta, and began a quirky bit where she would change the outro of her “Nonsense” song with each concert tour stop. Carpenter adjusts the last three rhyming lines to include the city she is currently in, and often features some sort of racy lyrics or sexual innuendo. Fans loved the freestyling and often declared it as their favorite part of the concert.

Watch her outro from St. Petersburg, Fla., Detroit and Philadelphia, as examples.

“These are kind of the jokes I make on a daily basis,” the 24-year-old told Variety. “Humor is such a healing part of my life. And I use it in everything—that’s how a lot of my songs happen.” 

The Adventures in Babysitting actress even did the bit at the VMAs singing: “He said that it’s bigger than a Moon Man / Guess that means I’m holding it with two hands / VMAs I love you l’m a huge fan.” She also created a version for several nights in which she opened for the South American leg of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour.”

The fun and lighthearted ad-libs that helped her stray from her juvenile Disney Channel reputation helped change her public persona to who she really is today—a grown woman in her 20s with lived experiences that translate to some pretty hilarious and hard-hitting lyrics.

Carpenter also got into some trouble with the Brooklyn Catholic Church where she filmed a video for her song, “Feather.” The establishment said they had to re-bless the church following the video’s release and the priest who approved the filming location for Carpenter’s team was removed from administrative duties.

“We got approval in advance, and Jesus was a carpenter,” she cleverly said in response to the controversy.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.

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