“Man’s Best Friend” Sabrina Carpenter is “Short N’ Sweet,” Fike, Finneas and last of Lolla

Photos provided by Island Records, Greg Noire and Dusana Risovic for Lollapalooza

The last day of Lollapalooza is always bittersweet, but at least it went out with the bang of Sabrina Carpenter, amongst dozens more, contributing to another installment of a completely packed Grant Park.

Although the headliner previously appeared on the heels of the burgeoning “Emails I Can’t Send” album, she’s since become one of the world’s most massive stars who shot into the stratosphere over the “Short N’ Sweet” blockbuster and is about the shatter the ceiling again when “Man’s Best Friend” releases on August 29.

In the meantime, the always clever singer/songwriter, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, locally debuted “Manchild,” a country-flavored pop romp worthy of being crowned the song of the summer.

That’s a pretty tall order considering the string of smashes it followed, which Carpenter slayed alongside a sexy stage presence, winking her way through such scream-a-longs as “Taste,” “Feather,” “Juno” and “Please Please Please.”

She even pleasantly shocked everyone by introducing the entire Earth, Wind & Fire band, founded right here in the Windy City a half-century ago, yet remained as relevant as ever as they connected during “Let’s Groove” and “September.”

Later on, a crane lowered a solo Sabrina closer to admirers come “Don’t Smile,” prompting onlookers to beam from ear to ear, then “Espresso” closed not only the spectacular show, but the blew the figurative roof off the entire event.

Singer/songwriter/rapper Dominic Fike shuffled subgenres, including alternative hip-hop, rap rock and indie pop, still burning over given the glow of “Sunburn” and the “14 Minutes” EP, eventually closing, baby in arms, with “All Hands On Deck.”

Singer/songwriter/super producer Finneas switched between straight up vocals to playing keys and guitar, focusing on “For Cryin’ Out Loud!” and remarking how this particular performance, plus two prior ones joining sister Billie Eilish, made Lollapalooza his favorite American festival.

Fellow recurring favorite Gryffin frequently crushed it behind the DJ booth and did the same after strapping on a guitar as well, pumping out a bit of “Pulse” and immediately recognizable remixes.

The audience had a chance to personally get in the action, using the Jack Daniel’s Music & Karaoke Experience as a primary platform where people generally covered a mound of current bops, though extra kudos go to whoever took their crack at John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s oldie “You’re The One That I Want.”

By merely just attending, fans also played a significant role in supporting the Chicago economy, which brought in $400 million last year, adding to a grand total of a whopping $3.2 billion thus far that will surely keep on growing when Lollapalooza is slated to return around the same time in 2026.

For upcoming Lollapalooza announcements, visit Lollapalooza.com.