Disney Channel actress Olivia Rodrigo has taken TikTok and even SNL by storm with her hit “Driver’s License” single, as well as the more recent “Deja Vu.” In her emotional songs, she sings candidly about her love life and the heartbreak she has experienced. The virality and popularity of her songs have of course resulted in her personal life being front and center in the public eye, and the actress/singer/songwriter has shared quite the unexpected reaction to the new experience she is having.
In an interview for Elle Magazine, Olivia Rodrigo says she actually loves part of having her personal life exposed for all to see. Here it is in her own words:
It’s truly any songwriter’s dream. There’s something so powerful in being vulnerable and open, like, ‘This is my life, and I’m fucking sad.’ Or, ‘I’m insecure.’ That’s what makes songwriting so special.
While it’s awesome she has this outlook on her new viral fame (because she really has no choice now), her optimistic view is not one shared by all other celebrities. It's worth noting that her celebrity status above Disney Channel and Disney+ star is relatively new. Her “Driver’s License” hit was only released at the beginning of this year.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Taylor Swift-esque lyrics and previous Disney fame have left her personal life wide open for the interpretation of fans - and that’s just what they did! Fans listened to Rodrigo’s songs and put the pieces together from her other celebrity connections to figure out just who she was talking about in her songs, which are ex Joshua Bassett and Sabrina Carpenter, who are both also Disney Channel stars.
If Olivia Rodrigo continues on the same path as, say, Taylor Swift, she may feel differently if she gains the reputation of wearing her heart on her sleeve. Swift has been under fire by some for years for using her breakups as a means to profit.
Olivia Rodrigo is currently still part of the Disney+ original High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as one of the main characters. The series is about to start its second season, which premieres next month. Rodrigo’s viral fame for “Driver’s License” likely won't hurt the show, with Rodrigo's new star power potentially attracting new viewers to the Disney streaming service.
As the star of a Disney show going into its second season, Olivia Rodrigo’s time in the public eye seems to be just in the beginning stages. This is good news for her, since she seems to love the vulnerability and openness it brings to her life. Her music career will only keep gaining more success if she keeps going on her current path, but you can see her again on the small screen in the not-too-distant future. Season 2 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series premieres on Friday, May 14 at 12:01 a.m. PT on Disney+.
