THE POP PRINCESS HAS ARRIVED AGAIN.
Sabrina Carpenter has done what only legends dare to dream: her fiery feminist anthem “Manchild” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first solo female track to do so since Ariana Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” earlier this year. Oh, and did we mention? This is Sabrina’s first-ever No. 1 debut and her second chart-topping single overall. You may now address her as Queen Sabrina of the Charts.
“Manchild” Hits No. 1 With No Collaborators, No Apologies, and No Mercy
“Manchild”, a blistering, unapologetic takedown of emotionally unavailable men dressed in designer suits and red flags, is now the only new entry in this week’s Billboard Top 10 because, frankly, no one else was invited to the party. It marks Sabrina Carpenter’s fourth Top 10 hit, and the latest step in her absolute hostile takeover of pop music.
Released under Island Records/Republic, the track co-written by Sabrina herself, Jack Antonoff, and Amy Allen is a sugar-coated sucker punch, a bubblegum bullet dipped in sarcasm. Produced by Antonoff, the same maestro behind “Please Please Please”, it’s a tightly wound, glitter-bombed middle finger in three minutes and ten seconds.
The Numbers Don’t Lie But They Do Scream
Let’s break this down like the diva data analyst we all have inside us:
- 1,182nd No. 1 in the Hot 100’s 66-year history
- 85th song to debut at No. 1
- First ever No. 1 debut for Island Records
- First time a solo woman has debuted at No. 1 since Ari
- Only woman with multiple No. 1s since the reign of “Please Please Please”
And get this: “Manchild” is the first solo female song to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100 for the first time since… Sabrina Carpenter’s own “Please Please Please.” Yes. She is now competing with herself. Just like Beyoncé. Just like Taylor. Just like the greats.
A Comeback 11 Years in the Making
Sabrina Carpenter released her debut single eleven years ago. Eleven. She was practically singing in braces. Now? She’s dropping back to back No. 1s like it’s child’s play or should we say manchild’s play?
She went from Disney starlet to sassy pop disruptor with an arsenal of hits and a venom-laced pen. And unlike her male peers, she didn’t need a viral scandal, a Kardashian girlfriend, or a radio deal with the devil to climb the charts. She earned it song by song, drip by drip, roast by roast.
What’s Next? Oh, Just a Little Album Called Man’s Best Friend
“Manchild” isn’t just a standalone slay it’s the first taste of her upcoming album, Man’s Best Friend, dropping August 29, 2025. This will be Sabrina’s follow-up to Short n’ Sweet, the August 2024 release that launched her into certified It Girl status, delivering three Top 10 smashes:
- “Espresso” (peaked at No. 3)
- “Please Please Please” (No. 1)
- “Taste” (No. 2)
Those three hits had the audacity to all sit in the Top 5 at the same time a feat that only The Beatles had achieved before her. Yes, The Beatles.
Now she’s out here redefining 21st century pop music, weaponizing femininity and sarcasm, and doing it in four inch heels.
The Crown Is Glued On, Baby
As of today, Sabrina Carpenter stands alone as the only woman in the past year to:
- Have two Hot 100 No. 1s
- Hit No. 1 with nonseasonal songs
- Do it without any collaborators
No features. No gimmicks. Just hits.
Pop’s new leading lady isn’t coming. She’s here. She’s charting. She’s conquering.
And if “Manchild” is any indication of what’s coming with Man’s Best Friend, then every boy band, indie darling, and TikTok-flavored rapper better step aside or risk being lyrically vaporized by the most dangerous weapon in music right now: a 5’0 blonde girl with a pen and a grudge.
