Carpenters: your time has come. 

Pop it-girl-of-the-moment Sabrina Carpenter will grace the Austin City Limits Music Festival as Saturday’s headliner on the American Express stage at 8:30 p.m. 

The 26-year-old star defined the summer of 2024 with her hit “Espresso” — ever heard of it?  The song has surpassed 2.5 billion streams on Spotify.  She built on the success this year, securing a Grammy for her album, “Short & Sweet,” and attracting critical acclaim for her August record “Man Best’s Friend.” Most recently she collaborated with her childhood idol, Taylor Swift, who fans speculate could join Carpenter on the American Express Stage today.

How can you spot a Carpenter? They wear pastel blue attire, gingham, sparkles and — the give away — a red lipstick kiss temporary tattoo referencing “Short & Sweet.” The fans began queuing early. Some showed up at the crack of dawn. Before the gates opened they were stretching, preparing to sprint to stage front spots to wait all day for their icon to grace the stage.

Sabrina: Austin’s glad you’re here. Fans: the Austin American-Statesman is here to provide you with on-the-ground updates on all things Sabrina. Check back all day.

Aubrey Williams, 11, made the trip from San Antonio to Austin with her dad, Randal, just to see Sabrina Carpenter take the American Express stage.

“She understands me through her music,” Aubrey said, wearing an off-white Sabrina tee. “It speaks a lot to me.”

She loved the artist since her pre-“Espresso” album, “emails i can’t send.”

“I love her laugh,” Williams added.

— Lily Kepner

Scalpers on-site this morning were quoting prices between $300 and $500 for Saturday single-day passes — but most didn’t have any left to sell.

Given that Sabrina Carpenter is one of the most famous people in the United States, with millions of young fans, it stands to reason that casual listeners have punted on the three-day ACL experience and instead zeroed-in on watching their favorite pop star perform.

Especially because there are recent rumors about Taylor Swift possibly crashing the stage tonight at ACL. The Statesman has found no credible evidence that this will happen Saturday night.

— Ramon Ramirez

Taylor Swift’s name isn’t anywhere on the ACL lineup, but try telling that to the folks waiting at the fest gates at Zilker Park. With her album “The Life of a Showgirl” dropping Friday — and a mysterious “standby” slot popping up in tonight’s schedule — the Swiftie rumor mill is in overdrive.

Signs point to Sabrina Carpenter’s 8:30 p.m. set: the two share a new track, are close offstage, and Swift has a history of crashing big moments. Theories are flying faster than friendship bracelets: “40% chance she shows,” said one fan. “Things might go to (expletive) if she does,” said another.

Swift or no Swift, the vibe is high-voltage. Carpenter stans are decked in pastel blue, gingham, and cherry-kissed tattoos, queuing since dawn. Whatever happens tonight, one thing’s certain — Zilker Park is under Taylor’s spell, whether she appears or not.

— Ana Gutierrez

With the Austin city skyline as a backdrop, Carpenter will lead an all-female line up on the American Express Stage Saturday. Sydney Rose, Olivia Dean, Marina and Doechii are also set to perform.a

Miss Sabrina will be no exception. Branding herself as an unapologetically witty and uncensored former Disney darling, Carpenter is poised to pull the biggest crowd of the weekend. 

— Lily Kepner