Olivia Rodrigo has officially confirmed her “expectations” collaboration with Chappell Roan, turning days of fan speculation into one of the week’s most anticipated pop releases. The remix arrives this Thursday, October 15, alongside a music video, with Rodrigo unveiling promotional artwork featuring the two singers sitting on a yellow car bearing the license plate “XPECT8NS.”
The announcement follows a series of clues that sent fans searching for signs of a potential collaboration. Rodrigo’s official fan account, @LiviesHQ, had previously shared a studio teaser showing percussion and synthesizer tracks in a digital audio workstation, accompanied by the question, “olivia does remixes now?” The cryptic post prompted theories that Roan could appear on a reworked version of “expectations,” the 12th track from Rodrigo’s third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.
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Speculation surrounding the remix has already produced a measurable streaming impact. “expectations” re-entered Spotify’s global chart at No. 159 as listeners revisited the original track and searched for confirmation of the rumored pairing.
Originally presented as a synth-pop track, “expectations” explores the standards and emotional complications that shape dating after a breakup. A version featuring Roan could introduce a different perspective to the song while bringing together two of pop’s most appreciated voices.
The pairing feels natural given the singers’ shared history and their connection to producer Dan Nigro, who has played a central role in both artists’ careers. Nigro helped shape Olivia Rodrigo’s albums and Chappell Roan’s breakthrough record, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Roan has also contributed background vocals to several Rodrigo songs, including tracks from SOUR and GUTS, as well as “Can’t Catch Me Now,” Rodrigo’s contribution to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes soundtrack.
Their relationship extends beyond the recording studio. Roan opened for Rodrigo during a 2022 SOUR Tour date in San Francisco before joining the GUTS World Tour for a substantial run of shows in 2024. That August, the two performed together at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome, where Rodrigo joined Roan for “Hot to Go!” and its signature choreography. Rodrigo has previously praised Roan as one of the most singular, inspiring and powerful artists she has met.
Photo: Olivia Rodrigo / Instagram
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