One of the most unforgettable highlights of this year’s Lollapalooza occurred when Earth, Wind & Fire made a surprise appearance alongside Sabrina Carpenter. According to Philip Bailey of the legendary band, the entire collaboration was orchestrated in under 24 hours.
In a Vulture interview published on August 5, Bailey revealed that Carpenter’s team contacted the icons just one day before the show—arranging a private jet to Chicago, rehearsals, and stage preparations within a single day. “We really had to pull this off on a tight deadline,” he told the magazine.
“We boarded the plane at 7 a.m. and dove straight into rehearsal,” Bailey continued. “It felt rushed—I admit I was concerned—but by evening, everything clicked. Sabrina knew her parts perfectly, and we thrived on the crowd’s energy.”
“She’s incredibly warm, gracious, and down-to-earth,” Bailey noted of the Gen Z superstar, whose work he’d only known from her hit “Espresso.” “Her creative vision and dynamic stagecraft meshed beautifully with our own vibe.”
The Vulture feature ran two days after the ensemble’s Lollapalooza appearance, which closed out the festival’s final day on Sunday, August 3. Carpenter headlined the main stage, joining a lineup that also included Tyler, the Creator; Rufus du Sol; and Olivia Rodrigo, among others.
Midway through her headlining set, Carpenter surprised fans by segueing into Earth, Wind & Fire’s classic “Let’s Groove.” “Why not let loose and groove together?” she teased before inviting the soul legends onstage.
Together, they performed “Let’s Groove” and “September,” creating a moment Bailey described as “an honor and a thrill. We’re grateful to Sabrina and her fans for embracing our cameo.”
Looking ahead, Carpenter is set to release her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, on August 29. Following the runaway success of Short n’ Sweet and her No. 1 single “Manchild,” anticipation for the new record is already soaring.
