Conan Gray has no doubts when it comes to the greatest debut single of all time. During a recent interview with Capital Buzz, the singer-songwriter named Olivia Rodrigo’s breakout smash “drivers license” as his pick for the strongest first single ever released, adding another public show of support to one of pop music’s most visible friendships.
The comment arrives as Gray continues his sprawling Wishbone World Tour, his biggest global run to date in support of his fourth studio album, Wishbone. After wrapping the North American leg in March, the singer has moved through Europe and the UK, with upcoming stops across Australia and New Zealand. Rising pop artist Esha Tewari has joined him as the special guest on all dates, as Gray balances life on the road with moments that continue to spotlight his long-running friendship with Rodrigo.
Gray and Rodrigo have been close since the early 2020s, building one of pop’s most genuine offstage connections. Whether appearing together at major industry events, publicly cheering on each other’s releases, or casually referring to one another as best friends in interviews, the pair have consistently shown mutual admiration.
Released on January 8, 2021, “drivers license” quickly became one of the most culturally defining singles of the decade. Written by Rodrigo alongside producer Dan Nigro, the piano-driven power ballad served as the lead single from Sour and immediately reshaped the trajectory of Rodrigo’s career. Built around sparse production, aching vocals, and emotionally direct songwriting, the song connected across generations and became a global phenomenon almost overnight.
Its commercial impact remains staggering. “drivers license” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Rodrigo the youngest artist ever to debut atop the chart, and remained there for eight weeks. The single broke Spotify’s record for the most streams in a single day for a non-holiday track and posted the platform’s biggest first week at the time. It has since earned six-times platinum certification from the RIAA, topped charts in 25 countries, and surpassed 2.8 billion Spotify streams.
Critical recognition matched its commercial dominance. The track won Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards while also earning nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
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