Additional Coverage:
- Madonna Says Sabrina Carpenter’s Team Ghosted Her for ‘5 Days’ in ‘Awkward’ VMAs Speech (parade.com)
Madonna Didn’t Wait Around to Team Up with Sabrina Carpenter-She Just Went Straight to Her DMs
At the 2026 MTV VMAs, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter took home the award for Best Collaboration with their hit “Bring Your Love.” But behind the scenes, the pop icon revealed she didn’t exactly wait patiently for the duet to come together.
Known for her impatience, Madonna shared how, after five days of no response from Sabrina about working together, she took matters into her own hands-and slid into Carpenter’s direct messages. “This is a true story,” Madonna said.
“She replied, and within weeks, we were in the studio. It was fabulous.”
Carpenter’s surprised reaction to Madonna’s confession was caught on camera, and fans watching seemed to find the moment a bit awkward, with comments on social media calling it “awkward and staged” and noting Carpenter’s characteristic laugh breaking the tension.
The duo’s VMA performance was a highlight of the night. Madonna made her first VMAs appearance in 23 years, opening with a club-inspired medley from her album Confessions II. Carpenter joined her on piano for “Bring Your Love,” and the show featured appearances from Charli XCX, Julia Garner, Sombr, and Seth Rogen during an elaborate set.
Madonna entered the awards as the night’s most nominated artist, with 13 nods after additional categories were announced. Beyond Best Collaboration, “Bring Your Love” was also up for Song of the Year.
Madonna herself took home Artist of the Year, while Confessions II – The Film earned multiple nominations, including Video of the Year and several technical categories like Best Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Choreography, and Visual Effects. The album Confessions II also received a Best Album nomination.
It’s clear that Madonna’s proactive approach paid off-not just in making the collaboration happen but in sweeping the VMAs with multiple honors.