Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo burst onto the music scene with her smash hit “Drivers License” in January 2021.
Before becoming a global artist, Rodrigo starred in several television shows, which marked the beginning of her journey in the entertainment industry and her rise to becoming a household name.
Now, we promise we won’t be a Traitor. Here are some fun facts about Olivia Rodrigo that are Good 4 U!
Olivia Isabel Rodrigo is 22 years old and was born on February 20, 2003, at the Springs Medical Center in Murrieta, California, an hour and a half’s drive from Los Angeles.
The singing superstar grew up in Temecula, California, about six miles from Murrieta, with her parents, Jennifer and Chris. She has no siblings.
Her rise to stardom began when she appeared in the direct-to-video film An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success in 2015.
Rodrigo has Filipino heritage. Long before she was born, her grandparents and great-grandparents emigrated from the Philippines to the United States.
Her first concert experience was attending a performance by the alternative rock band Weezer. During her childhood, Rodrigo’s parents frequently listened to alt-rock bands such as No Doubt and Green Day at home.
Rodrigo played the character Paige Olvera in the Disney series Bizaardvark between 2016 and 2019. This role marked her debut in a television series.
Rodrigo was born half-deaf in her left ear, so when she talks to people, she often has to be to their left.
She began her musical journey during kindergarten when her parents signed her up for vocal lessons at the age of 5. That was followed by piano lessons when she was 9. By 12, she was also able to play the guitar.
Rodrigo appeared in the American television sitcom New Girl in the episode “Young Adult,” which aired on February 28, 2017.
There’s one particular snack that Rodrigo can’t go without, and that’s SkinnyPop Popcorn. She has previously said that she “inhales it like oxygen.”
In 2021, Rodrigo broke the Guinness World Record for the most streamed track on Spotify in the first week with her hit single “Drivers License.” It was streamed 65,873,080 times between January 8 and 14 that year!
Between 2019 and 2022, she starred as Nini Salazar-Roberts in the popular Disney+ show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series for three seasons.
Rodrigo has a very specific Starbucks order: a grande iced matcha latte with coconut milk, four pumps of raspberry syrup, and vanilla sweet cream cold foam. If that’s not extra enough for you, she also has strawberry puree mixed into the cold foam!
The singer’s music idols are New Zealand artist Lorde and global megastar Taylor Swift. In fact, Rodrigo and Swift are good friends!
In 2021, Rodrigo’s popular song “Drivers License” became the first hit of the year to reach 1 billion streams worldwide.
Rodrigo has previously dated actor Ethan Wacker, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star Joshua Bassett, music producer Adam Faze, and DJ and music executive Zack Bia.
Her voice type is soprano, a classical singing voice known for its broad range and versatility in the music industry.
When COVID-19 vaccinations became available, Rodrigo joined forces with 46th U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House to encourage young people to get vaccinated.
Since the beginning of her music career, Rodrigo has been no stranger to collecting awards. For instance, in 2022, she won six Billboard Awards and three Grammy Awards.
Rodrigo graduated from high school in 2021 and moved to an apartment in Los Angeles to pursue her career. In 2023, she swapped the sunshine of LA for the hustle and bustle of New York City.
In October 2023, Rodrigo started a charity called Fund 4 Good. It focuses on ensuring women, girls, and anyone seeking reproductive health rights have a fair and just future.
Rodrigo is big on sustainability, too. When it comes to fashion, she keeps her clothing consumption to a minimum. When she does secure something new, it’s typically secondhand.
In July 2023, Rodrigo revealed the album she had listened to the most throughout her entire life was Elephant by The White Stripes.
Rodrigo is a strong advocate for mental health. In the past, she has openly shared her own struggles and has sought therapy. Rodrigo encourages others to reject the stigma and take care of their own mental health.
Rodrigo has made two appearances as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live. In 2021, She performed “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U.” In 2023, she sang two of her popular songs, one of which was “Vampire.”
Her favorite fast food indulgences are McDonald’s oatmeal and an In-N-Out Burger double-double cheeseburger with a Neopolitan milkshake.
In January 2025, Rodrigo’s debut album, SOUR, surpassed 14 billion streams on Spotify. That’s no small deal; she’s the first female artist to reach such lofty heights!
One of Rodrigo’s favorite movies is La La Land. She believes the film, which stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, will transcend time.
Grossing $186 million by October 2024, Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour became the highest-grossing tour by an artist born in the 21st century.
In October 2024, Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour was released as a Netflix special. It featured two of her August 2024 concerts at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
From her musical background to her breakout as an actor in her early teens, Rodrigo was seemingly always destined for the big time.
Billions of people listen to her music and have witnessed her ascent to becoming one of the biggest artists of all time.
Rodrigo’s rise continues to inspire people worldwide, and there’s still plenty more to come from this talented performer.
