Sabrina Carpenter Looks Back on ‘Baby Steps’ That Led to Best New Artist Grammy Nod 10 Years Into Her Career (Exclusive)

Sabrina Carpenter may be nominated for best new artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards, but she’s certainly no stranger to the music world.

Carpenter, 25, had already released five albums when her infectious single “Espresso” took hold of the charts in April, catapulting her into a new level of stardom that only grew further upon the release of her sixth album, Short n’ Sweet, in August. 

And while it may seem a mistake for an artist a decade into their career to be up for a newcomer award, Carpenter is fine having played the long game.

“I’ve always been true to myself and believed in my work since I was young,” she tells PEOPLE in an email interview. “I’ve realized that it’s always been about the small baby steps that you take over time to get you to this point.”

In addition to best new artist, the pop star is also up for album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, best pop vocal album and best pop solo performance at the Grammys. She says being nominated is “such an honor,” as it was a goal of hers since she was a child.

Carpenter recently wrapped the North American leg of her Short n’ Sweet tour, which included a “Sweet Spot” pop-up experience hosted by T-Mobile that offered fans ticket giveaways.

“These collaborations have felt super authentic to this album and tour and fan friendly, which I’m grateful for,” she says. “It’s great to work with a brand that values the same things I do and finds ways to make my concerts more accessible and exciting for my fans.”

The star revealed that the most memorable part of the tour for her was “connecting with my fans” each night, as she praised their outfits and the “hilarious” signs they’d hold up from the audience. The first leg of her tour — which marked her first arena tour — ran from September through November, and she’s set to hit the road once more in Europe come March.

“I can’t wait to see all of my fans in Europe. There are a couple of cities I haven’t been to in a really long time, so I’m excited to see which crowd is the loudest,” she says.

As she heads into 2025, Carpenter says she’s still making sense of the whirlwind year she just wrapped.

“I don’t think I have fully reflected yet, as I’m also trying to be present in the moment,” she says. “But I’m just happy to see my songs connect with so many people from all walks of life. That’s why I love to write songs.”