The Met Gala's musical program this year belonged to two generations of pop. Sabrina Carpenter opened Monday night's event with a solo set inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, performing "House Tour," "Espresso," and "Please, Please, Please" for an audience of A-listers seated around the museum's Temple of Dendur. Then Stevie Nicks took the stage as the evening's headliner, tearing through "Gypsy" and "Edge of Seventeen" before bringing Carpenter back out.
The two performed Fleetwood Mac's 1975 ballad "Landslide" together, then closed with "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." Videos of the performances leaked onto social media despite the event's strict no-phone policy — a recurring pattern at the Gala, which in recent years has also seen bathroom selfies circulate widely.
Carpenter served on this year's host committee alongside her performance duties. The Hollywood Reporter noted she wore two separate outfits during the set: a colorful costume and, later, a fringed golden dress. Past Met Gala performers have included Ariana Grande, Madonna, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber.
On the red carpet, Carpenter arrived in a Dior dress designed by Jonathan Anderson. The gown paid homage to Audrey Hepburn's 1954 film "Sabrina" and incorporated actual film strips from the movie. Carpenter told Vogue that Anderson created it after working on her Coachella looks, and that the film is among her all-time favorites.
Carpenter is coming off a significant stretch of high-profile performances. She headlined two weekends at Coachella, where Madonna made a surprise appearance. The two debuted a new single, "Bring Your Love," during the set — an upbeat dance track produced by Madonna and Stuart Price. The song will appear on Madonna's forthcoming album "Confessions II," due July 3 on Warner Records. The pair also performed "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer."
Inside the Gala, guests previewed the new exhibition "Costume Art" before it opens to the public on May 10. Seating was arranged by Vogue's director of special events, Sache Taylor, who told The Hollywood Reporter that the team spends considerable time pairing guests who will connect — and making sure no one ends up next to a former flame. Décor for the evening was designed by Raúl Àvila and Derek McLane.
Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Nicole Kidman were among the attendees whose looks drew wide attention online, with CBS News and other outlets covering the night's fashion highlights.
