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Olivia Rodrigo has cemented herself as a defining voice of her generation, especially among young women who see their own lives reflected in her deeply personal lyrics. Being a global pop sensation, Rodrigo rose to prominence with her record-breaking debut single, Drivers License, in 2021, and her star has only soared higher since.
At just 20 years old, she is a multi-platinum artist with two highly successful albums, SOUR and GUTS, both of which have dominated charts worldwide. SOUR earned her three Grammy Awards and sold over 4 million copies globally, solidifying her as a cultural phenomenon.
Her latest album, GUTS continues her meteoric rise. With a blend of pop-punk, alternative rock, and emotional ballads, it debuted at No. 1 in 14 countries. Songs like Vampire, The Grudge, and Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl made it to the top and deeply resonated with Gen Z audiences.
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**Disclaimer: This article is based on the thoughts of the writer.**
5 Lesser-known facts about Olivia Rodrigo
1) She started singing when she was just five years old
Olivia Rodrigo had been writing songs long before she became a global sensation. On December 25, 2021, she shared a nostalgic piece of her childhood with her fans by posting a snippet of her first-ever Christmas song, The Bels, on Instagram.
In the caption, she wrote, “In honor of Christmas Eve, may I present to you my very first Christmas song ‘The Bels,’ written by 5-year-old me lol. Happy holidays!!!!”
Fans were charmed by the glimpse into her early creative mind and loved the fact that she showed how her passion for music started at an incredibly young age.
2) She is an advocate for women's rights
Olivia Rodrigo launched the nonprofit, Fund 4 Good which will be channeling resources toward causes that matter to her. Named as a playful nod to her hit single Good 4 U, the initiative focuses on issues like reproductive healthcare, education for girls, and fighting gender-based violence.
“Lots of the money is going to abortion funds to help provide some resources to people who are in need of reproductive healthcare,” Rodrigo told PEOPLE on October 2023.
The nonprofit will receive proceeds from her sold-out 77-date Guts World Tour, and Rodrigo is also leveraging special events to fundraise. For instance, an intimate concert at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles donated all ticket sales to the cause.
3) She is the biggest Swiftie
Olivia Rodrigo has never shied away from expressing her admiration for Taylor Swift.
She called herself “the biggest Swiftie in the whole world” on an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe on January 2021.
Her love for Swift’s music runs deep, and she’s had several surreal moments as a fan. In January 2021, Rodrigo was woken up early by a phone call from a friend, urging her to check Instagram. Groggy and confused, she opened the app to find a comment from Swift on her post celebrating the success of Drivers License.
Swift had written, “I say that’s my baby and I’m really proud,” and Rodrigo “just about died.”
This wasn’t the first time Swift acknowledged her. In 2020, Swift reshared Rodrigo’s cover of Cruel Summer on her Instagram Story, calling her “THE TALENT.”
These interactions left Rodrigo ecstatic, reinforcing her admiration for Swift, who has been her musical idol since childhood. Meeting Swift remains one of her ultimate dreams.
4) She took inspiration from her personal experiences for Guts
Olivia Rodrigo's sophomore album, Guts, is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and features the emotional highs and lows of her late teens. She wrote the bulk of the album during her 19th year, which was a period she described as filled with "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness, and good old-fashioned teen angst."
Drawing inspiration from moments of self-reflection and growth, Rodrigo used her personal struggles to shape the album's themes of heartbreak, identity, and self-discovery.
One major example is The Grudge track inspired by a lyric from The Smiths about the strength it takes to forgive. Rodrigo admitted that creating this song was particularly emotional because it reflected a deep sense of betrayal and unresolved feelings.
5) She was homeschooled
Olivia Rodrigo’s experience of being homeschooled has deeply influenced her life and music. Growing up, she didn’t have a traditional high school experience, which she reflected on in a 2020 interview with Glamour UK.
“I am a homeschool kid, so I’m so used to being in my house on my laptop, but with my parents,” she said while discussing the COVID-19 lockdown. She added, “I’ve kind of been preparing for this moment for a while, and I feel very fortunate to be able to say that I’m in a really good place.”
Rodrigo also connected her homeschooling to her role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, calling it her version of high school.
“I always say that I never had a normal high school experience. I’ve always been homeschooled because I’ve been working. So this is kind of like my high school experience, and these are my high school best friends,” she shared.
Olivia Rodrigo's latest album GUTS was released on September 8, 2023.
