Sabrina Carpenter, "Girl Meets World" star, will perform at the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning July 25, 2015.
Disney Channel star, Sabrina Carpenter, will perform July 25 at the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.
(Courtesy Photo)
Becoming a superstar actress and singer can sometimes make people forget who they are and where they came from.
Not so for Lehigh Valley teen phenom Sabrina Carpenter.
Despite not yet being able to vote, Carpenter certainly has more on her plate than most 16-year-olds.
Between her recently released debut album, "Eyes Wide Open" and filming for her role in the Disney Channel hit "Girl Meets World," Carpenter is keeping herself busy.
She will be taking time away from filming in Los Angeles to perform at the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning at 1 p.m. on July 25 in Readington Township.
Local roots
Growing up in the Lehigh Valley, Carpenter says this show is especially important to her.
"I don't usually get to play near my hometown so it's nice when I get the opportunity to," she says.
"It is exciting to get to go back and play in front of a hometown crowd and to show people how hard work can lead anyone to success."
She has certainly put in the hard work, with her "Eyes Wide Open" album which debuted at no. 43 on Billboard's Top 200 chart.
Having been born in Quakertown and spent time living in and around the Lehigh Valley, Carpenter says some people can hear a country twang in her voice.
"While Pennsylvania isn't really the country, I can understand how the twangy notes come out in some of my songs," she says.
She has given her Lehigh Valley roots credit for some of her musical masterpieces, saying her upbringing is always coming through in her lyrics.
"Every choice you make influences who you are and my upbringing always shows up in my music," she says.
Best of both worlds
Carpenter is also an accomplished actress, with roles in "Law and Order: SVU," "Orange is the New Black" and now "Girl Meets World."
"Girl Meets World" is the sequel to the popular 90's sitcom "Boy Meets World" which followed the lives of Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence-Matthews, along with their friends and family. It was nominated for an Emmy Award on Thursday.
Carpenter plays the role of Maya Hart, best friend of Cory and Topanga's daughter Riley, played by Rowan Blanchard. Carpenter and Blanchard also sing the theme song to the show, "Take on the World."
While Carpenter has achieved much acting success, she says singing was her first love.
"Singing is much more personal for me and I think people can relate more to an artist through their music than with acting," she says.
Carpenter acknowledges that she could not have one without the other and says she is blessed to have not just one, but two careers she is passionate about.
Tickets for Carpenter's performance at the 33rd QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning can be purchased at balloonfestival.com starting at $40. Admission to the festival is included in the price of the concert ticket.
Meet and greets with Carpenter as well as premium seating are sold out, but the festival is giving away one meet and greet pass as well as two premium tickets in the second row if their Facebook post get over 1,000 shares.
Rebecca Bullis may be reached at rbullis@lehighvalleylive.com or 610-553-3382.
Check out archive photos from QuickChek's New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in this gallery: