TIME Olivia Rodrigo
OLIVIA RODRIGO
SHE’S GOT GUTS • With just two albums, a raft of Grammys, and barely 21 years under her belt, Olivia Rodrigo is being heralded as the voice of Gen Z.
OLIVIA, LIVE! • Before she was old enough to drink, vote, or rent a car, Rodrigo was dazzling audiences at the Grammys, VMAs, and more.
THE ROOTS OF HER RISE • Born in California in 2003, the future pop sensation was slaying voice competitions at age 6. Next up: writing her own songs, big-time acting gigs, and in 2021, pulling at our heartstrings with “Drivers License.”
THE VOICE OF GEN Z • She was a viral sensation and a record-smashing artist, and in December 2021, Olivia Rodrigo was named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year.
The Road to “Drivers License” • A 5-year-old Rodrigo took to the stage in the aughts. By 2021, she was offcially a pop sensation.
THE SOUR FILM • Part concert movie and part documentary, Disney+’s Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U (A Sour Film) chronicled the making of the star’s first album.
Mutual Admiration • Rodrigo named Gwen Stefani as the person she’d most like to collaborate with. Stefani returned the compliment, writing about Rodrigo for the 2021 TIME100 Next list.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT, OLIVIA? • Like many pop hits before them, "Vampire" and “Lacy” had fans scrambling to decode the lyrics.
The SNL Darling • The iconic late-night show can’t seem to get enough of Rodrigo.
THE PRESSURE TO STAY A PRODIGY • For a young artist, it can be terrifying to wonder if the most interesting thing about you is your age. This author wrote about it for TIME in November 2023.
MAKING OLIVIA RODRIGO • Add raw talent to Disney’s marketing might, the High School Musical halo, and TikTok, and you get a bona fide superstar.
CHANGING THE DISNEY NARRATIVE • The latest House of Mouse performer to shoot to pop-music stardom, Rodrigo has navigated the transition with less drama than some of her predecessors.
THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL FACTOR • Olivia Rodrigo was 2 when HSM first dropped, and the franchise had a huge impact on her career. In 2008, on the release of HSM 3, a TIME writer weighed in on the multibillion-dollar film property.
A Spin-Off Splash • Rodrigo broke through as Nini, the lead in the mockumentary High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
SONGS OF THE HSMTMTS ERA • Rodrigo established her songwriting cred on the Disney Channel mockumentary. Our guide.
BELOVED BY TIKTOK • The social media network can not only help launch singing careers, it can propel a select few (that would be you, Olivia) into the musical mesosphere. Where the breakout stars of 2021 are now.
Guiding Olivia • Meet the pros who are helping Rodrigo navigate her phenomenal journey.
HER SONGS AND STYLE • Delivering tunes with a message and loud-and-clear fashion statements, Rodrigo shows off her brand-making savvy.
THE SONGS, RANKED • What are the best songs on Rodrigo’s two albums (plus bonus tracks)? Here is the full list, from last to first. Feel free to argue.
A PASSION FOR FASHION • She thrifts. She shops the runway. She rocks the Met Gala. Check out Rodrigo’s best looks.
TIME Olivia Rodrigo
Credits
STAYING UP LATE
Triple Threat