At just 22, Olivia Rodrigo has cemented herself as one of pop’s most celebrated voices, whether that be through her sing-your-heart-out ballads or her political and social activism. Rodrigo’s first single, “Driver’s License”, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. She wrote her first album, SOUR, at the age of 17 and would go on to win the 2022 “Best Pop Vocal Album” Grammy. Apart from her numerous musical accolades, Rodrigo is an accomplished actress, having starred in several Disney Channel projects. She’s messy, vulnerable, and she’s intelligent; Olivia Rodrigo is a true punk, and her courage as a young artist has made an impact that society may overlook.
Early Life
Born on February 20, 2003, in Murrieta, California, Olivia Isabel Rodrigo managed a jam-packed schedule. At the ripe age of five, Rodrigo’s parents, Chris and Jennifer, enrolled her in singing lessons. Soon enough, little Olivia was competing in local competitions. Not long after, Rodrigo kick-started her acting career, landing the lead role in American Girl: Grace Stirs up Success (2015). Olivia would continue to pursue acting, starring alongside fellow young actress Madison Hu in the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark (2016-19), prompting Rodrigo’s family to relocate to Los Angeles. However, Rodrigo’s most life-altering role came about when she was 15: Olivia would play Nina Salazar-Roberts on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a spin-off of Kenny Ortega’s hit film trilogy, High School Musical. It was during this series that Rodrigo’s music career would truly take off.
A Star is Born
Olivia gained major traction from record labels–her latest performance on HSMTMTS was impressive, launching her into a favorable, yet crossroads-like position. Would she stick with the path of her predecessors? Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and other pop stars churned out from the Disney Machine had all chosen Disney’s Hollywood Records. Olivia diverged from Disney’s vision, signing with Geffen Records, which has hosted artists such as Nirvana, Cher, Elton John, and more recent artists, including the trending girl group KATSEYE and Korean-Pop sensation BTS. Rodrigo told Women’s Magazine in 2021, “I think there’s a specific archetype of the Disney star turned pop star that I didn’t want to follow.”
And when her hit single “Driver’s License” absolutely destroyed the charts, Rodrigo explained in the same interview, “I always have to remember that, at the end of the day, I would write music even if no one was listening. I don’t write songs for the charts or even for people to like them. But it is weird to have your first song be such a huge success and break all these records. How do you follow that up?”
But it seems that Rodrigo underestimated her power, because her debut album—SOUR—would be nothing short of stellar. Though it’s a typical, teenage, rage-filled album at its core, Rodrigo’s artistry and style shine through SOUR’s conformity to pop norms. The punk-rock influences seep through, reflected in loud, yet soulful tracks, such as “Good 4 U” and “brutal”. Rodrigo cites Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, and Alanis Morissette as her influences for the album, praising their songwriting abilities. With themes of betrayal, female rage, and teenage angst, SOUR skyrocketed to the top of Billboard charts and earned Rodrigo her first Grammy.
However, Rodrigo’s sophomore album, GUTS (2023) unsheathed a different aspect of Rodrigo’s agenda as an artist—to proudly display her womanhood. GUTS, with hits such as “vampire” and “bad idea right?” venture largely into the pop-punk category, portraying Rodrigo as a more mature, secure artist. Instead of an uncontrolled teenage craze, Rodrigo explores themes such as the pressure of womanhood and the preservation of her identity in the face of fame. Olivia’s satirical attack on modern-day “womanhood” displays clear growth, both stylistically and lyrically, as well as emotionally. Though projects such as GUTS demonstrate Rodrigo’s activism for female empowerment, her efforts reach far beyond her music.
Activism: A Pop Star With a Conscience
In partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (the creative industry’s largest trusted philanthropic organization), Olivia Rodrigo launched the Fund 4 Good project, which raises money for community-based nonprofit organizations. These organizations would foster environments without systemic barriers that prevent women from receiving reproductive care. Rodrigo has always been outspoken about abortion rights, going as far as blasting US Supreme Court judges at her set at England’s 2022 Glastonbury Festival.
In addition to female reproductive rights, Rodrigo is an advocate for the victims of the Palestinian genocide. Earlier this month, Rodrigo penned a personal statement, stating, “There are no words to describe the heartbreak I feel witnessing the devastation that is being inflicted upon innocent people in Palestine.” She went on to encourage her followers to donate towards the humanitarian aid effort after donating to UNICEF herself.
In all honesty, advocating for the human rights of oppressed peoples is the bare minimum. However, what separates Rodrigo from the plight of her fellow young superstars, such as Chappel Roan, is a genuine effort to stand for what she believes in. Instead of using her politically charged songs as a shield against criticism, Rodrigo takes action both inside and outside of her pop-star persona.
In other words, Olivia Rodrigo is no fluke. She is a teenage drama queen, confessing her angsty thoughts and miscalculations to an audience. She is a diary. She is bloody guts and sour candy.
Olivia Rodrigo IS punk.