Sabrina Carpenter Couldn’t Hide Her Nerves in Front of Everyone on the Grammys Red Carpet
Sabrina Carpenter turned heads when she arrived at the 68th annual Grammy Awards. The “Please Please” artist rocked a long, sheer, tiered Valentino gown embellished with crystals.
While Carpenter smiled for the cameras in her dress honoring the late designer, an expert noticed signs that she was actually “nervous” standing on the red carpet.
Here’s more on that, plus why her performance has caused controversy.
Expert says Carpenter appeared ‘nervous’ during her arrival at the Grammys
Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and TV as a consultant and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.”
Speaking on behalf of Covers, Stanton told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “On the red carpet, Sabrina gives off some tell-tale signs she is actually quite a nervous person. She is playing with her fingers and putting them together. This is a pacifying and self-soothing gesture to show she isn’t entirely comfortable or relaxed. She’s very animated in her facial expressions, with genuine smiles.
“However, flashing these gestures with her hands means we’re seeing some nervousness. The interlocking fingers and hand animation is a sign of nerves ahead of her performance and the ceremony. At one point, she puts her hands just above her abdomen, again with her fingers interlocked. When we put our hands here, covering where some of our vital organs are, it’s an innate protective gesture and can also be used when we’re feeling a little bit insecure.”
Carpenter was slammed by PETA after her performance
Later in the evening, Carpenter took the stage to perform her hit “Manchild.” She donned a pair of white short shorts with a matching lace-up top. She accessorized with a hat and scarf that featured rhinestone embellishments and knee-high boots. But not everyone was a fan of the performance.
That’s because Carpenter brought out a live white dove at the end of the set. The activist organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was not pleased and released a statement condemning the entertainer for using the live bird, posting, “Did Sabrina Carpenter really just bring a bird on stage in 2026?! ‘The Manchild’ singer is giving childlike behavior. Leave animals out of the GRAMMYs.”
The post also included a photo of the singer, which PETA captioned: “Hey Sabrina, bringing a live bird onto the Grammys stage is stupid, slow, useless, and cruel. Bright lights, loud noise, and handling cause fear and distress for a bird who belongs flying free in the open sky.”
Carpenter was nominated for six awards in the categories Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Music Video, Album of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album. She previously won two Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance with her song “Espresso” and Best Pop Vocal Album with Short n’ Sweet.
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
