Olivia Rodrigo: The Rising Star of Pop Music
Olivia Rodrigo is one of the most popular and successful artists of 2021. She has achieved three number-one singles, one number-one album, and five multi-Platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She has also won various awards, including an MTV Video Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, and two American Music Awards. She was named the 2021 Entertainer of the Year by Variety and Woman of the Year by Billboard.
But who is Olivia Rodrigo and how did she become such a sensation? In this blog post, we will explore her early life, her acting career, her musical breakthrough, and her future plans.
Early life and acting
Olivia Isabel Rodrigo was born on February 20, 2003, in Murrieta, California. She is the only child of Jennifer and Chris Rodrigo, a school teacher and a family therapist. She has Filipino ancestry from her father’s side and German and Irish ancestry from her mother’s side. She grew up following Filipino traditions and culture.
Rodrigo started taking vocal lessons in kindergarten and learned to play piano soon after. She began taking acting and singing classes at age six and started acting in theater productions in elementary school. She was playing guitar by age 12.
She grew up listening to her parents’ favorite music, such as Pearl Jam, the White Stripes, and No Doubt. She became interested in songwriting after listening to Taylor Swift, who is one of her biggest inspirations.
She moved to Los Angeles after landing her role on Bizaardvark, a Disney Channel sitcom. She made her acting debut in 2015, at age 12, in the direct-to-video film An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success. She played the lead role of Grace Thomas, a young baker who travels to Paris to help her grandparents’ bakery.
In 2016, she received recognition for starring as Paige Olvera, a guitarist and songwriter, on Bizaardvark. She played this role for three seasons until 2019.
In February 2019, she was cast in the starring role of Nini Salazar-Roberts on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a Disney+ mockumentary series based on the High School Musical film franchise. She played a high school student who auditions for the school musical and falls in love with her co-star. She also wrote and performed some of the songs for the show’s soundtrack.
Rodrigo was praised for her performance on the show, with critics describing her as “especially magnetic” and “a revelation”. She left the show at the end of its third season in 2022 to focus on her music career.
Music breakthrough
Rodrigo signed with Interscope Records and Geffen Records in 2020. She negotiated the record deal to secure for herself ownership of the masters of her music.
She released her debut single “drivers license” on January 8, 2021. The song is a power ballad about heartbreak and moving on from a failed relationship. It was inspired by Rodrigo’s own experience of getting her driver’s license and breaking up with her co-star Joshua Bassett.
The song became an instant hit, breaking various records and topping charts around the world. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Rodrigo the youngest artist ever to do so. It also became the most-streamed song in a single week on Spotify and Apple Music, and the fastest song to reach one billion streams on Spotify.
The song received critical acclaim for its emotional lyrics, vocal delivery, and production. It also sparked a lot of media attention and speculation about Rodrigo’s personal life and relationship with Bassett.
Rodrigo followed up her success with two more singles: “deja vu” and “good 4 u”. Both songs reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well, making Rodrigo the first artist in history to have their first three singles debut at number one.
She released her debut solo studio album SOUR on May 21, 2021. The album is a collection of pop-rock songs that explore themes such as teenage angst, heartbreak, self-doubt, and empowerment. It was influenced by artists such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, Alanis Morissette, and Paramore.
The album received rave reviews from critics, who praised Rodrigo’s songwriting skills, musical versatility, and authenticity. It also achieved commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over one million copies in the US. It also topped charts in several other countries, such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The album earned Rodrigo several nominations and awards, including three Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and two American Music Awards. She won the MTV Video Music Award for Song of the Year for “drivers license” and the American Music Award for New Artist of the Year.
Rodrigo also released a documentary film titled Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U in 2022. The film chronicled her creative process with producer Dan Nigro and her journey to stardom.
Future plans
Rodrigo is currently working on her second studio album, which is expected to be released in 2023. She has said that she wants to experiment with different genres and sounds, and collaborate with other artists.
She is also planning to go on her first world tour in 2023, which will support her debut album SOUR and her upcoming album. She has expressed her excitement and gratitude for being able to perform live for her fans.
Rodrigo has also hinted at returning to acting in the future, saying that she loves both music and acting equally. She has said that she would love to star in a musical film or a Broadway show someday.
Rodrigo is one of the most talented and influential artists of her generation. She has proven herself as a singer, songwriter, actress, and role model. She has inspired millions of people with her music and her story. She is a rising star of pop music, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
