Before She Was a Pop Star, Sabrina Carpenter Went Full Metal on Ozzy’s ‘Crazy Train’

Sabrina Carpenter might be dominating pop charts today, but her musical journey began long before she was selling out stadiums. At 26, the former Disney Channel star from Quakertown, Pennsylvania, has risen to international pop stardom—thanks in no small part to her breakout 2024 album Short n’ Sweet. The record topped charts in 18 countries, produced three UK number-one singles, and sold over three million copies in the U.S. alone.

Before Pop Fame: A Childhood Soundtracked by Classic Rock

Long before she gained fame playing Maya Hart on Girl Meets World, Carpenter was immersed in the world of rock and metal—courtesy of her father, David. She grew up listening to legends like Queen, The Beatles, Rush, Guns N’ Roses, and Ozzy Osbourne.

In an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this year, she recalled hearing Rush’s 1978 track The Trees throughout her childhood, joking, “The Trees is the longest song I’ve ever heard.”

That early love for rock is still on display. A 2011 video of a then 12-year-old Carpenter covering Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train”—alongside an unnamed band—still circulates online. Though she likely didn’t relate to the song’s themes of mental chaos at the time, her performance captures a sincere and energetic homage to the heavy metal pioneer.

Ozzy Osbourne’s Impact and Final Goodbye

The connection is especially poignant following the recent death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22. He was laid to rest on July 30 after a public tribute in his hometown of Birmingham, where thousands gathered to honor the Black Sabbath frontman.

Osbourne, who helped invent heavy metal as co-founder of Black Sabbath in 1968, released eight studio albums with the band before being dismissed in 1979 amid concerns about his substance use. He then launched a legendary solo career, with 1980s Blizzard of Ozz marking a new era.

Speaking in a 2018 interview, Ozzy reflected on writing “Crazy Train,” crediting bassist Bob Daisley for contributing much of the song’s lyrics and praising guitarist Randy Rhoads for his creative influence.

“I probably did ‘I’m going off the rails like a crazy train,’ and ‘Crazy, but that’s how it goes,’ but then I’d get stuck and he’d help me,” Ozzy said. “When we did ‘Crazy Train,’ I knew we had something good. It was a magical time.”

A Documentary in the Works

Osbourne’s final chapter will be explored in Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now, an upcoming feature-length documentary directed by BAFTA winner Tania Alexander and produced by London’s Echo Velvet. The film will cover the legendary musician’s final years and feature exclusive interviews with Ozzy, his family, and an all-star lineup of collaborators.

Among those contributing are Tony Iommi, Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Billy Idol, Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Zakk Wylde, and producer Andrew Watt.