Charlie Puth Publicly Loses It Over Sabrina Carpenter’s Lollapalooza Performance

When Charlie Puth walked into the crowd at Lollapalooza 2025, he probably didn’t expect to be trending worldwide an hour later. But the moment Sabrina Carpenter stepped on stage, everything changed. Her electrifying performance didn’t just blow away the festival audience—it sent Charlie into an emotional spiral that’s now the center of entertainment gossip across the internet.

The Grammy-nominated producer, known for his perfectionism and no-filter honesty, wasn’t just impressed. He was stunned, visibly moved, and—according to fans on-site—”looked like a proud dad mixed with an obsessed fan.” What followed was an online storm of admiration, deep reflection, and the resurfacing of one of the most underrated yet emotionally gut-punching pop collaborations in recent years: That’s Not How This Works.

So, what really happened between Charlie Puth and Sabrina Carpenter? Why did this song strike such a chord? And why is their creative chemistry suddenly the hottest topic in entertainment?

Let’s rewind to where it all began.

The Day Pop Music Got Too Real

It was late 2022 when Charlie Puth teased an unnamed collaboration with “someone who surprised the hell out of me.” Fans speculated wildly—was it Taylor Swift? Selena Gomez? But few guessed Sabrina Carpenter, the Disney alum-turned-pop provocateur, would be the one to knock Charlie’s socks off in the studio.

According to Charlie, the session started off like any other. “I had the concept for That’s Not How This Works sitting in my phone for over a year,” he told reporters at the time. “I knew it was good, but I didn’t know who could make it real.”

Enter Sabrina.

Charlie said her first take on the vocals left the entire room frozen. “She didn’t just sing it—she lived it. That bridge? That pain? That final chorus? She made it hers. I actually had to step out of the studio because I got emotional,” he confessed.

The song, a haunting ballad about blurred lines in messy relationships, gained modest traction upon release. But those who listened closely knew: this wasn’t just a one-off feature. It was an emotional blueprint of two artists exposing their inner chaos in perfect harmony.

Why Lollapalooza 2025 Was Different

Fast-forward to August 2, 2025. Sabrina Carpenter took the main stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago. With a headlining slot that placed her next to festival titans like Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar, expectations were sky-high. And she did not disappoint.

Wearing a sparkling silver outfit and backed by a 10-piece live band, Sabrina rolled through her discography—but it was the unexpected performance of “That’s Not How This Works” that caused the emotional detonation.

She sang Charlie’s verses live.

Yes, you read that right. With Charlie Puth standing in the crowd, Sabrina Carpenter delivered both her lines and his, turning the duet into a full-blown confession. By the time she hit the final note, the camera cut to Charlie—jaw dropped, eyes glossy, no words.

Social media lost it.

“Charlie Puth watching Sabrina Carpenter live is ME watching my ex win in life.”
– @fanfreakingout on X

“This is more chemistry than half of Hollywood’s fake couples.”
– @gossipguru

Fan-captured footage of Charlie clapping, shaking his head in disbelief, and mouthing “damn” mid-performance went instantly viral. Within 24 hours, the original That’s Not How This Works music video hit 12 million new views, climbing back into the Spotify Viral 50.

Charlie Speaks Out

Later that evening, Charlie posted to Instagram Stories: “I don’t know what kind of spell Sabrina Carpenter is casting right now, but she just took our song and made it ten times more real than when we recorded it. I’m in awe. I’m in shock. I’m inspired all over again.”

In a follow-up interview with Rolling Note, Charlie doubled down: “That performance reminded me why I started making music in the first place.”

He added, “We both went through some real sh*t before recording that song. There was no acting. That studio session was therapy. And seeing her pour it out on stage like that? I felt like I was watching our memories play out live.”

Sabrina’s Subtle Clapback to Her Critics

While Sabrina Carpenter has enjoyed a meteoric rise, she’s also had her fair share of critics who claim she “rides coattails” or “relies on features.” But this performance proved something else: Sabrina doesn’t follow. She leads.

Not only did she take control of a duet originally defined by Charlie’s vocal stylings, but she also made the entire stage hers, flipping the emotional dynamic of the song in a way that fans—and even Charlie—weren’t ready for.

In a subtle but pointed tweet the next day, Sabrina wrote: “Some songs hit different when they’re lived in.”

Mic. Dropped.

The Future of Puth-Carpenter

With fans begging for another collab, rumors are already swirling. Insiders claim Charlie and Sabrina are “in talks” for a joint EP or even a mini-tour, though neither camp has confirmed anything yet. But the mutual admiration is crystal clear.

When asked whether he’d work with her again, Charlie didn’t hesitate: “I’d say yes before she even finishes asking.”

Sabrina, meanwhile, responded coyly: “Charlie makes honesty sound expensive. I’d gladly pay that price again.”

If there’s one thing the music world loves more than a powerful collaboration, it’s a redemption arc through art, and Charlie Puth x Sabrina Carpenter might just be delivering the most authentic version of that in recent memory.

Why It All Matters

Let’s not pretend this is just another festival moment. This is about two artists—each with their own fanbases, flaws, and feelings—finding a unique musical intersection that hit deeper than anyone expected.

In an industry full of overproduced anthems and gimmicky features, That’s Not How This Works stood out from the start. And Lollapalooza 2025 just proved it deserves another life.

So here we are—watching Charlie Puth, the perfectionist maestro, publicly praise someone else’s take on his own song. And we’re watching Sabrina Carpenter rewrite her story from pop’s underestimated underdog to emotional powerhouse.

No drama. No fake beef. Just raw talent, rawer emotions, and one unforgettable performance that brought an entire crowd—and one A-list producer—to their knees.