Sabrina Carpenter is proving she’s a musical powerhouse, and fans are loving it. On November 29, a TikTok video shared by her close friend, palomaidaliasandoval, captured the Girl Meets World star delivering a jaw-dropping rendition of the iconic “Defying Gravity” battle cry from Wicked.
In the video, several people take on the challenging final notes of the dramatic anthem, but it’s Carpenter’s performance that steals the spotlight. Dressed casually in a black cardigan and pants, she belts out the song’s soaring high notes while sitting poolside. After hitting the powerful notes, Carpenter, 25, seems as surprised as her viewers at her own vocal prowess.
Fans were quick to express their amazement. “Not Sabrina devoured so hard she shocked herself,” one fan commented. Another remarked, “I thought, ‘Wow, this girl can actually do it,’ then realized it was THE Sabrina Carpenter!” One even jokingly suggested, “The 4th person should be a singer for real.”
In fact, some fans compared her vocals to the legendary Christina Aguilera, referencing a recent surprise performance by Carpenter and the five-time Grammy winner during Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet tour in Los Angeles. Together, they sang “What a Girl Wants” and “Ain’t No Other Man,” leaving the crowd in awe.
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Defying Gravity” Moment Will Leave You Speechless
The Defying Gravity song, featured at the end of Wicked’s first film adaptation and as the closing number of the Broadway musical’s first act, is notoriously difficult to sing. It requires incredible vocal control and stamina to hit those soaring high notes.
Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the Wicked film, faced a similar challenge while filming the iconic scene. She performed the song while being suspended on a harness—an experience that required rigorous training and an exceptional vocal technique. “You have to find the breath you need, especially when you don’t have the ground to push off of,” she shared during a post-screening discussion at the DGA Theatre in New York. “It’s about finding support in the air and in my diaphragm, even though I was wearing a corset.”
Despite the challenge, Erivo, 37, was determined to do the song justice, even enduring the physical toll of bruises and chafing during her flight scenes. “I wanted to experience both what flying felt like and what it felt like to sing that song,” she added.
Sabrina Carpenter Defies Expectations with “Defying Gravity”
Fans have been vocal about their surprise and admiration for Sabrina’s impromptu Wicked moment. One person exclaimed, “I thought wow, she really nailed it, and then it hit me—it’s Sabrina Carpenter! She’s got those pipes!” Fans continued to gush about the singer’s remarkable vocal skill, with one user humorously adding, “Sabrina should be a professional singer… oh wait!”
While Wicked may be known for its demanding vocals, Carpenter’s effortlessly powerful performance proves that she’s got what it takes to go head-to-head with the best of them. If there’s one thing this video confirms, it’s that Sabrina Carpenter’s musical talents are worth celebrating.
READ MORE: