Sabrina Carpenter is putting her foot on the gas, and her stiletto on our necks. Less than a year after dominating charts and streaming playlists with her Grammy-winning Short n’ Sweet, the pop star is back with another full-length album titled Man’s Best Friend, arriving August 29.

And if the title alone didn’t raise eyebrows, the cover art certainly did. Shared via Instagram on Wednesday (June 11), the provocative image shows Carpenter on all fours in stilettos, dressed in a black mini, with a man gripping a handful of her hair. The second slide zooms in on a powder-blue dog collar, engraved with the album title, cheeky, stylish, and unmistakably Sabrina.

“i can’t wait for it to be yours x,” she wrote in her caption, immediately sending fans into an online frenzy.

 

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A post shared by Sabrina Carpenter (@sabrinacarpenter)

From “Espresso” to Empowerment

Man’s Best Friend follows the breakout success of Short n’ Sweet, which debuted in August 2024 and marked a turning point in Carpenter’s career. With top 10 singles like “Espresso” and “Taste,” and the runaway success of “Please Please Please,” her first Hot 100 No. 1,  the album launched her into superstardom. It also brought her two Grammys and her first Billboard 200 No. 1, where it spent four weeks at the top.

While Short n’ Sweet dripped in caramel flirtiness and radio-friendly melodies, Man’s Best Friend appears to be edgier, possibly darker, definitely bolder.

“Manchild” Ushers in a Sassier Sound

Leading the pack is “Manchild,” the first single off the new record. A whip-smart, country-inflected bop with Carpenter’s signature mix of sweetness and sarcasm, the song calls out immature men in a way only she can, with a wink and a mic drop.

Co-written with frequent collaborators Jack Antonoff and Amy Allen, the track debuted last week and is already clawing its way toward the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Spotify streams are soaring, and early forecasts suggest a top-tier chart entry.

The full 12-song tracklist hasn’t been shared yet, but fans can safely assume Man’s Best Friend will keep the same trio of Carpenter, Antonoff, and Allen at its creative core.

Writing From the Retreat

Hints about new music first surfaced in February, when Carpenter told Vogue she had been quietly working on new material. “I start every year just trying to go away and write,” she said. “Because I feel like I have a lot to say at the end of a year. I’m just kind of tucked away right now. It’s half writing and half relaxation, if that’s something I can even accomplish.”

With Man’s Best Friend, it looks like the creative getaway was a success, even if the album’s visuals suggest she’s not taking things lying down. Or maybe she is, but only on her terms.

Fans React: “She’s Not Playing Around”

Unsurprisingly, Carpenter’s fanbase went wild over the announcement. “Let’s bfr she ate with the cover.’” one fan posted on X. Another quipped, “The way i’m kinda into this new era for Sabrina.”

Memes, thirst tweets, and debates about the deeper meaning of the dog collar cover are already circulating. Some called the image “pop kink-coded,” while others are already predicting another Grammy sweep.

One fan summed it up best: “SABRINA CARPENTER SUMMER HAS BECOME A YEARLY TRADITION.”

What’s Next?

Man’s Best Friend drops August 29 via Island Records. Pre-orders are available now on Carpenter’s website. With an arena tour already extending through Thanksgiving and “Manchild” climbing fast, Sabrina is showing no signs of slowing down.

Call it a victory lap, but with some sugar and spice.