Sabrina Carpenter is back, and bolder than ever. Her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend—released today via Island Records—dials up the energy, satire, and threat of chaos in equal measure. The title track “Manchild” burst onto the scene earlier this summer, careening to number one across the US, UK, and Ireland with its whip-smart critique of immature exes.
On Man’s Best Friend, Carpenter trades suburban kittenishness for full-throttle daring, a dramatic pivot from her 2024 Grammy-winning LP Short n’ Sweet . The album embraces genre-blurring synth-pop and post-disco elegance, produced alongside Jack Antonoff and John Ryan. From the slinky title track to the emotive punch of “Tears,” Carpenter strikes a fiery balance between playful irreverence and introspective empathy.
Yet what grabs attention first—and invites heated debate—is the album’s provocative cover art: Carpenter on all fours, tugged by the hair as if on a leash—part satire, part stiletto-stiletto power move . This imagery sparked a media frenzy, with some calling it degrading and others praising its bold reclamation.
Despite the controversy, the album’s emotional core remains intact. Sabrina’s songwriting is sharp, personal, and ripe with cheeky wit. Whether you adore her risk-taking or rail against it, Man’s Best Friend confirms she’s not just growing up—she’s growing into full command of her creative narrative.