Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, & Female Sexuality

Coachella 2026 featured Sabrina Carpenter as a headliner, and the internet was buzzing about her incredible performances, sets, and guest stars. Coachella Weekend Two surpassed even Carpenter herself with the addition of surprise guest Madonna, during a special “Juno” pose intro to “Vogue.” 

Madonna is, by anyone’s standards, an absolute icon. She unapologetically pushed the boundaries of what women were expected to do as performers. She made the transition from the 80s to the 90s pop sphere in a way that rivaled even Michael Jackson. “Vogue” is one of the most iconic pop songs ever made, and for good reason. The choreography and performance Madonna brings to the song and its accompanying music video scream star power. 

Madonna, like Carpenter, is known for her unabashed comfort in her own sexuality. In songs like “Like A Virgin” and “Like A Prayer,” Madonna was unafraid to be vocal about her sexual desires, as well as her tendency to relate sexuality to faith and religion. These artistic choices scandalized those of the 1980s who weren’t ready to accept what her art meant for the music industry. She was often criticized for the blatant sexual themes in her songs and music videos, and she became synonymous with the dangers of young girls exploring sexuality. 

Sabrina Carpenter knows what it feels like to be on the receiving end of this kind of criticism, most notably with the cover of her latest album, Man’s Best Friend, in which she crouches on all fours while an unseen figure grabs her hair. Carpenter faced immense backlash for the cover and was even accused of playing into misogynistic themes. When asked about it in a conversation with Interview magazine, Carpenter said, “The image, the way I see it, is a metaphor, but I’m sure that other people are like, ‘Dang, she’s a sub?’” 

Carpenter is witty and exceptionally talented at sexual wordplay. Songs like “House Tour” from Man’s Best Friend are chock-full of innuendo and clever lyricism, and the music video shows a very Madonna-esque embracing of beauty and sexuality. For Coachella, Carpenter brought these attributes to the table and paired them with Madonna’s legendary star status. Madonna’s intro to the stage to “Vogue” is spine-tingling. “Juno” transitions straight into the intro music for “Vogue,” and Madonna rises from the stage to cheers. The two then performed Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” and “Bring Your Love,” a duet introducing a new song from Madonna’s upcoming album Confessions II, intended to be a sequel to her 2006 album Confessions on a Dance Floor.

These two artists performing together is an amazing event, not just because of their separate claims to fame, but because of what both of them, together, represent about women in music and in society as a whole. Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter are creative, sexual, and artistic beings who understand that these identities can naturally flow into each other. Music is about creation, but it can simultaneously be about authenticity and performance. By writing their songs and performing them the way they choose to, they aren’t letting those around them dictate what their bodies or their art should mean, or their relationship to each other. 

One of the reasons I love Madonna as much as I do is also a reason I love Sabrina Carpenter: they are bold, sexy, and experimental, driving the music industry to accept a woman in all her forms, not just the ones that can be broadly marketed as “appropriate” for an audience. Sabrinawood isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and Madonna is back with a new album on July 3. Celebrate these amazing performers and stick around to see what each of them has in store.

• coachella
• entertainment
• female sexuality
• feminism
• Madonna
• music
• Sabrina Carpenter