Olivia Rodrigo is marking a major milestone in her career by looking both backward and forward. As her debut album SOUR turns five later this year, the Grammy-winning pop star has announced a special series of reimagined covers from artists who have deeply influenced her, beginning with a striking reinterpretation of “drivers license” by David Byrne.
“SOUR is turning 5 years old this year! And to celebrate, I’m so excited to announce an upcoming series of reimagined SOUR covers from some of my favorite artists ever,” Olivia wrote. She described Byrne’s contribution as emotional and transformative, calling the Talking Heads frontman one of her “all-time heroes.” According to Rodrigo, hearing his version for the first time moved her to tears. The cover is available to stream now, alongside a limited 7-inch vinyl release that pairs Byrne’s “drivers license” with Rodrigo’s take on Talking Heads’ classic “Burning Down the House.”
The announcement coincides with the fifth anniversary of “drivers license,” the song that launched Olivia into stardom. Released five years ago as her debut single, the track became an immediate cultural moment. It spent eight consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, made Rodrigo the youngest artist to debut atop the chart, and reached No. 1 in 25 countries, including the U.K. and Australia. Its success set the stage for SOUR, which quickly became one of the defining pop albums of the decade.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Rodrigo expressed lasting gratitude for the song’s impact. She credited “drivers license” with opening doors she never imagined and forging a connection with fans that continues to define her live shows. “This song has totally changed my life in ways I still can’t totally wrap my head around,” she admitted. “I’m forever grateful for this magical chapter, and I can’t wait to scream red lights, stop signs with you guys at every concert I play for the rest of my life!”
Looking ahead, Olivia is gearing up for her third studio album. The follow-up to Guts is expected to arrive later this year, as the singer recently teased through her latest Instagram photo dump.
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