Earth, Wind & Fire Surprises Sabrina Carpenter at Lollapalooza

CHICAGO, IL — Earth, Wind & Fire performed a surprise set with pop star Sabrina Carpenter at Lollapalooza on Sunday, Aug. 3. The legendary R&B and disco band joined Carpenter on stage for two classic hits, “Let’s Groove” and “September.”

Philip Bailey, the band’s frontman since 1972, shared his thoughts on the unexpected collaboration. In an interview, he revealed that they only had 24 hours’ notice to prepare for the performance. Carpenter’s agent facilitated the quick arrangement.

“It was one of those kinds of things that happened in 24 hours,” Bailey said. “We had to really turn this thing around.” The day before the festival, Earth, Wind & Fire had performed in Detroit and quickly traveled to Chicago.

<p“They sent a private plane for us and our entourage,” Bailey explained. “We hopped a plane at 7 a.m., went in, and had the rehearsal.” He admitted feeling “almost concerned” about the timeframe, as they were racing the clock.

Despite the pressure, Bailey praised Carpenter, who is 26, for her dedication. “She did her homework on what verses she was going to take,” he noted. “Her energy and our energy were very compatible and complementary to one another.”

Bailey described Carpenter as “very cordial, very kind, and very approachable.” He felt the set matched well with the overall flow of Carpenter’s performance, calling it “fantastic.”

Carpenter, who is gearing up for the release of her new album due on Aug. 29, expressed excitement about the collaboration. During her Lollapalooza set, she delighted the crowd by introducing Earth, Wind & Fire mid-performance.

“I thought, ‘Why not bring out my friends from Chicago?’” Carpenter said before the band took the stage. The audience erupted in cheers as the group performed their iconic songs.

<p“Sometimes things work, and oftentimes they don’t,” Bailey remarked, reflecting on the successful outcome of their last-minute performance. “We were honored to be asked and very appreciative to her and to her fans for embracing these moments we were able to share.”