Sabrina Carpenter had a quick response when Madonna revealed onstage that getting in touch with her had once taken five days. Television viewers just did not hear all of it.
Carpenter and Madonna were accepting Best Collaboration for “Bring Your Love” at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards when Madonna explained how the song started. She said five days passed without her getting connected to Carpenter or hearing whether the younger singer wanted to work with her, so she stopped waiting and sent a direct message herself.
EW identified the censored response Carpenter gave when she took the microphone: “My team is s—ting themselves backstage.” Carpenter immediately clarified that her team does respond to people.
She believes she gets there faster, adding that contacting her directly is usually the quickest route. Pitchfork quoted Madonna explaining that Carpenter answered the DM and that “within weeks” they were in the studio together.
The Bleep Came Right After Madonna Revealed the Five-Day Wait
Madonna began the acceptance speech by acknowledging one of her better-known traits: patience is not necessarily her strength. She told the audience that five days had passed without her getting connected to Carpenter or receiving an answer about whether she wanted to record together.
“I DM’d her,” Madonna said, according to Pitchfork’s account of the speech. Carpenter answered, and Madonna said they were working together in the studio within weeks.
That was when Carpenter jumped in with the line television viewers did not hear. “My team is s—ting themselves backstage,” she joked before quickly defending them. “My team replies, just so everybody knows. They do respond to people, but I respond faster.”
She then gave future collaborators an unusually practical piece of advice: “Direct line to me is always the best way to get in contact.” The story ended with an award in both singers’ hands. MTV confirmed “Bring Your Love” as the 2026 Best Collaboration winner.
Madonna Had More Praise Than Complaints
She described Carpenter as highly professional and said their working habits complemented one another. Madonna joked that Carpenter gets places early while she tends to arrive late.
The two also discovered a decidedly old-fashioned creative habit in common. Madonna said they both write lyrics down on pieces of paper.
E! News described that Madonna wrapped up the moment by suggesting that they go backstage and “have a drink or something,” and the two left the stage together.
‘Bring Your Love’ Had Already Put Them on Stage Together
Madonna surprised Carpenter’s Coachella audience during the festival’s second weekend in April. PEOPLE reported that they performed “Vogue” and “Like a Prayer” and previewed the then-unreleased collaboration during Carpenter’s headlining set.
Variety later confirmed that “Bring Your Love” officially arrived April 30 as the lead single from Madonna’s Confessions II, after being introduced during that Coachella appearance.
The collaboration kept expanding from there. A full music video arrived in June, with UPI reporting that the visual placed Carpenter and Madonna inside the fictional “Club of Love.”
The VMAs Gave Their Collaboration Another Big Night
Madonna did not wait until the acceptance speech to bring Carpenter into her VMAs comeback. She opened the Sept. 27 ceremony with her first VMAs performance in 23 years, beginning the production with Carpenter and “Bring Your Love.” Vogue reported that Charli xcx later joined Madonna for “Danceteria Afterhours,” while Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, Sombr and Seth Rogen were among the other cameos.
The awards kept coming after the performance. MTV’s official results say Madonna led the night with seven wins, including Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Dance and Best Album. Carpenter had another win of her own. Pitchfork lists “House Tour” as the winner for Best Editing.