For years, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter’s names have been linked in a tangled web of heartbreak anthems, cryptic lyrics, and fan-fueled speculation. But at the 2025 Grammy Awards, the two pop stars did what no one expected — they laughed, they chatted, and they hugged. Just like that, one of Gen Z’s most iconic (and overanalyzed) feuds seemed to dissolve in real-time.

OLIVIA AND SABRINA HUGGING AT THE GRAMMYS THE WORLD HAS HEALED pic.twitter.com/bHmiRt2rUt

— madeline (spilled) ౨ৎ | seeing liv 6/7 (@madelinebedumb) February 3, 2025

From "drivers license" to "Skin": The Making of a Pop Culture Moment

To understand why this moment was so significant, you have to rewind to early 2021, when Rodrigo’s debut single, "drivers license" became a cultural phenomenon. The emotional ballad, packed with raw heartbreak and a now-infamous reference to a “blonde girl,” ignited endless theories about a love triangle involving Rodrigo, her High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star Joshua Bassett, and — enter stage left — Carpenter.

While Rodrigo never explicitly confirmed the song was about Bassett moving on with Carpenter, the internet didn’t need a press release to connect the dots. Theories swirled, TikTok went into overdrive, and suddenly, Rodrigo’s personal heartbreak became a viral obsession.

Carpenter entered the conversation shortly after with “Skin,” a song that many, including People, interpreted as a direct response to Rodrigo. With lyrics like, “Maybe we could’ve been friends, if I met you in another life,” and, “Maybe ‘blonde’ was the only rhyme,” fans took it as confirmation that Carpenter was clapping back. Though she later insisted "Skin" wasn’t a diss track, the perceived rivalry only intensified.

Bassett, caught in the eye of the storm, dropped his own song “Lie Lie Lie,” which only fueled the drama further. It didn’t help that all three artists were releasing music at the same time, leading to what felt like a real-life musical saga playing out through their lyrics.

Three Years Later: An Unexpected Reunion

Fast forward to 2025. Both Rodrigo and Carpenter had long since moved past the drivers license era, carving out their own distinct lanes in pop music. Rodrigo followed up SOUR with GUTS, proving she wasn’t a one-album wonder, while Carpenter’s career skyrocketed with a more refined sound and a new wave of success, with a huge tour for her LP Short N' Sweet and performances with Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour.

Beyond the embrace, the night was particularly significant for Carpenter, who had a major career milestone at the ceremony. She took home her first-ever Grammys, winning both Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, cementing her rise as a dominant force in pop music. See her acceptance speech here: 

Carpenter also delivered one of the evening’s most unique performances, paying tribute to Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn in a dazzling, theatrical number. Channeling Hawn’s signature charm and humor, Carpenter performed a medley of her hit songs "Espresso" and "Please Please Please" while dressed as a showgirl, even recreating a staircase descent reminiscent of Hawn’s 1978 television special. The performance showcased not only Carpenter’s vocal prowess but also her playful stage presence, proving she’s an entertainer in every sense of the word.

The music may have moved on, but the public perception of their “feud” hadn’t. That’s why their interaction at the Grammys sent shockwaves through social media. Cameras caught the two chatting, smiling, and — perhaps the biggest plot twist — sharing a genuine hug.

For fans who had spent years debating lyrics and dissecting interviews, this was the equivalent of the series finale no one saw coming. Was the feud ever real? Had they been playing into the narrative all along? Or had they, like everyone else, simply grown up?

olivia mouthing “i’m so fucking happy” to sabrina for her grammy win this is serious rachel pic.twitter.com/cmxrDp0JSi

— . (@virgosgroovie) February 4, 2025

The Internet Reacts

Within minutes, the moment went viral. TikTok exploded with reaction videos and X was flooded with memes, and Instagram fan accounts were in overdrive, analyzing every frame of their conversation.

sabrina and olivia were really caught on camera smiling, giggling and hugging each other at the grammys
pic.twitter.com/xxKhnlO3PT

— ☕️ (@newdiaryentry) February 4, 2025

While neither Rodrigo nor Carpenter have publicly addressed their now-iconic hug, it was clear to anyone watching that whatever tensions may have existed were now water under the bridge.

The End of an Era — or the Start of Something New?

Whether this moment closed the book on their rumored feud or simply turned the page, one thing is undeniable — Rodrigo and Carpenter have outgrown the storyline that once defined them. No longer footnotes in a love triangle, they’ve each stepped fully into their own spotlight as powerhouse artists, storytellers, and forces in pop music.

can’t stop thinking about olivia rodrigo and sabrina carpenter hugging at the grammys. war is officially over and they didn’t even need to work it out on a remix (but also they should feel free to do so) (please)

— el !! 💫 🌌 (@wlwdorlene) February 3, 2025

And who knows? Maybe, one day, instead of trading songs about each other, they’ll be trading verses with each other. Now that would break the internet.

SABRINA AND OLIVIA SEEN HUGGING AT THE #GRAMMYS pic.twitter.com/k9SfU0Oc3o

— kerry 🫀 (@gutsliv) February 3, 2025

Photo Credit: @sabrinacarpenter & @oliviarodrigo on Instagram.