Olivia Rodrigo, an American actress and singer-songwriter,
rose to prominence on the television show 'High School Musical: The Musical:
The Series' before releasing her No. 1 hit single "Drivers License"
in 2021.
Olivia Rodrigo: Who Is She?
Olivia Rodrigo grew up in California, where she showed early
musical talent, including the ability to compose her own songs. She was a child
actress who appeared in the TV shows "Bizaardvark" and "High
School Musical: The Musical: The Series." Rodrigo's debut single
"Drivers License" was released in January 2021. The song debuted at
No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song to surpass one billion
streams in 2021. She then released the critically acclaimed album
"Sour" (2021).
Olivia Rodrigo: Early Life and Interest in Music
Olivia Isabel Rodrigo was born in Murrieta, California on
February 20, 2003. Rodrigo grew up with her parents, Jennifer, a teacher, and
Chris, a family and marriage therapist, in Temecula, California. Olivia's
mother introduced her to alternative rock bands like No Doubt, the White
Stripes, and Smashing Pumpkins when she was a child.
Rodrigo developed an early interest in music. She began
singing lessons at the age of five and was soon competing in local contests and
talent shows. She began writing songs at a young age as well.
Rodrigo began piano lessons when he was nine years old. She
disliked studying the piano at first, but eventually realized how useful it was
for her songwriting.
Rodrigo's early songwriting compositions were frequently
about heartbreak, even before she had a boyfriend. She told People, "I
literally wrote breakup songs before I ever held a boy's hand."
Olivia Rodrigo: Acting Auditions and Disney Stardom
Rodrigo began acting classes when she was six years old. She
appeared in school plays and began auditioning for professional roles. Her
parents would drive her 90 miles to Los Angeles to accomplish this.
Rodrigo did not become famous overnight. Her parents, who
had not encouraged her to pursue a career as a child actress, told her she
could stop auditioning. She was, however, adamant about continuing. Rodrigo
landed the lead role in "An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success" at
the age of ten (2015).
Rodrigo, 12, was cast as Paige Olvera in
"Bizaardvark" (2016-19). She co-starred with Madison Hu, who is still
a close friend. Rodrigo had to learn to play the guitar for the role. It also
meant relocating to Los Angeles with her family and abandoning public school.
Rodrigo landed a starring role as Nini Salazar-Roberts on
"High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" when she was 15 years
old. She continued to write her own songs in addition to acting. "I Am
More," which she posted on Instagram, prompted the show to commission her
to write a song for her "HSM:TM:TS" character.
When Rodrigo was 16, she performed the resulting ballad,
"All I Want." In 2020, it became a hit for "HSM:TM:TS" and
charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Olivia Rodrigo: Hit Single 'Drivers License'
Rodrigo's abilities with "All I Want" drew the
attention of multiple labels. Geffen Records eventually signed her. Other
singers who got their start on Disney shows, such as Miley Cyrus and Selena
Gomez, signed with Disney's Hollywood Records first, so Rodrigo's choice was
unusual. "I think there's a specific archetype of the Disney star turned
pop star that I didn't want to follow," she admitted.
"Drivers License" was recorded in January 2021
with the help of producer Dan Nigro, who first approached Rodrigo after seeing
her sing on Instagram. The breakup ballad debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot
100, making Rodrigo, who was 17 at the time, the youngest performer to do so.
It also performed well on radio, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Amazon
Music. Numerous people lip-synced and created cover videos for the song on
TikTok.
Rodrigo's confessional style has been compared to that of
her idol, Taylor Swift. The song's content also fueled speculation that it was
about Rodrigo's breakup with "HSM:TM:TS" co-star Joshua Bassett.
However, the song's popularity extends beyond Disney fans. "The cool thing
about "Drivers License" is I've seen so many videos of people saying,
'I have no idea who this girl is, but I really love this song,'" Rodrigo
told The New York Times. The song's popularity was reflected in a viral
"Saturday Night Live" sketch in which a group of men sang
"Drivers License."
Olivia Rodrigo: 'Sour' Album and Performances
Rodrigo decided to make a full-length album after
"Driver's License," rather than an EP, as she had planned. She put in
13 hours per day, seven days a week to finish "Sour," which Nigro
produced. Every song on the album was written or co-written by Rodrigo.
"Deja Vu," a single from "Sour," reached
No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 2021. Rodrigo became the first
performer to have her first two singles chart in the Top 10. Another
chart-topping single, "good 4 u," was released in May 2021. Rodrigo's
successes demonstrated that he was not a one-hit wonder.
"Sour" was released on May 21, 2021, to critical
and commercial success. Rodrigo is proud of its heartfelt content, which
includes several songs about heartbreak. "I'm a songwriter who writes with
authenticity and truth," she told Billboard. "And, to be honest, I
wasn't feeling love, happiness, or anything else at the time. And what's the
point of making a record if you don't have anything important to say to
people?" The various styles of the songs reflect Rodrigo's musical
influences, which include Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, and Green Day.
In February 2021, Rodrigo performed "Drivers
License" on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." Her first
live performance did not take place until the Brit Awards in the United Kingdom
in May 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She was a success there and got to
meet Swift as a bonus. Rodrigo also appeared as a musical guest on an episode
of "Saturday Night Live" that same month.
Olivia Rodrigo: Personal Life and Experiences
Rodrigo's mother is of German and Irish descent, and her
father is Filipino. Rodrigo is proud to be a biracial Filipino American, but
she admits she wasn't always this way. "Me and my other more ethnic
friends grew up in this world where we thought being a white girl would be
better, happier, and more popular." She hopes that her music will reach
out to young girls who share her insecurities.
Rodrigo not only had breakthrough musical success in 2021, but she also graduated high school and moved into her own apartment. Rodrigo visited the White House in July 2021 and met with President Joe Biden as part of an effort to encourage young people to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Rodrigo, who is aware of the environmental impact of fashion, prefers eco-friendly labels, as well as thrifting, vintage, and clothing exchanges with friends. Honors and distinctions. Rodrigo won best new artist, best solo performance, and best album at the Grammys in April 2022 for her debut "Sour."
