Sabrina Carpenter Snags First Primetime Emmy—and Beats Taylor Swift Again

Sabrina Carpenter is officially on her way toward achieving legendary EGOT status. The pop powerhouse scored her very first Primetime Emmy Award on Saturday, Sept. 5, during night one of the Creative Arts Emmys. She officially picked up the statuette in the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) category, adding a major television victory to her already stacked trophy cabinet. The milestone triumph arrived thanks to her massive contribution to Disney+’s anniversary tribute special for *The Muppet Show*. Celebrating five decades since Jim Henson's iconic TV franchise first hit the airwaves, the project saw Carpenter working behind the scenes as an executive producer while also showcasing her musical and comedic talents on screen as a primary performer. Interestingly, the landmark variety show commemorated an anniversary that originated long before the pop star was even born. Yet Carpenter’s modern star power helped bring the beloved puppet gang back into the spotlight for a brand-new generation of viewers, earning critical acclaim and ultimate recognition from the Television Academy. ## Did Sabrina Carpenter beat Taylor Swift at the Emmys? Winning the category was no easy feat given the star-studded lineup of competing programs. Carpenter ultimately triumphed over superstar Taylor Swift, whose massive concert event *Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show* was also in the running on Disney+. The category featured formidable competition from premier comedy acts and theatrical specials. Industry heavyweights like Dave Chappelle with *Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…* on Netflix and Nikki Glaser with her Hulu special *Nikki Glaser: Good Girl* missed out on the award, as did NBC's starry broadcast *Wicked: One Wonderful Night*. ## How many times has Sabrina Carpenter won over Taylor Swift? This latest victory marks the second time Carpenter has bested Swift in a head-to-head battle for an EGOT-tier trophy. The pop award rivalries first made major headlines in February 2025 at the Grammy Awards, where Carpenter’s breakthrough record *Short n’ Sweet* took home Best Pop Vocal Album over Swift’s release *The Tortured Poets Department*. Carpenter also secured Best Pop Solo Performance for her chart-topping smash “Espresso” during that same ceremony. Now holding both a prestigious Grammy and a Primetime Emmy award, Carpenter has cemented her status as one of the most versatile and influential forces in modern entertainment. Balancing record-breaking hit singles with executive producer credits, the singer is continuing an unprecedented streak of award show victories.