Whip-smart lyricism, endlessly catchy hooks, endorsements from some of pop’s biggest names and a support slot on the biggest tour in history: Sabrina Carpenter had it all when she unleashed “Espresso”, the moreish hit that would dominate summer 2024 and propel her to pop’s top table. Then came the just as witty, Jack Antonoff-produced “Please, Please, Please”, which turned out to be that summer’s second biggest hit. It was Carpenter’s breakout moment, but it hardly came out of nowhere. Balancing her on-screen career as a Disney star with her slow-burn journey to pop stardom, the Pennsylvania singer-songwriter and actor explored dance-pop styles on 2015’s Eyes Wide Open and 2016’s EVOLution, trap and house on 2018 singles “Almost Love” the cheeky kiss off “Sue Me”, and a more reflective style on 2022 album emails I can’t send. It housed tracks including “Nonsense”, “Feather” and the headline-grabbing “because I liked a boy”, widely interpreted to be her response to a certain high-profile pop love triangle. The record also featured a prophetic claim: “Woke up this morning, thought I’d write a pop hit.” Needless to say she did, with hits including “Taste” and “Bad Chem” following “Espresso”’s moment in the sun. Listen to all the songs—and every line of witty lyricism—that have made Carpenter a superstar here.