Olivia Isabel Rodrigo, born on February 20, 2003, in Murrieta, California at Rancho Springs Medical Center, is a versatile American talent known for her skills as a singer-songwriter and actress. Her journey in the spotlight began with lead roles on Disney television series, including "Bizaardvark" from 2016 to 2019, and "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" from 2019 to 2022.
In 2020, Olivia signed with Geffen and Interscope Records and unveiled her debut single, "Drivers License," which not only shattered numerous records but also became one of the top-selling songs of 2021, catapulting her into mainstream stardom. This success was followed by the releases of "Deja Vu" and "Good 4 U." In 2021, she dropped her debut studio album, "Sour," which received both critical acclaim and commercial success. "Sour" even earned her three Grammy Awards. A Disney+ documentary titled "Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U" was released in 2022, providing an inside look at her creative journey with "Sour." In 2023, Olivia released her second studio album, "Guts," supported by singles "Vampire" and "Bad Idea Right?"
Olivia Rodrigo's accomplishments are remarkable, including three Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, two Billboard 200 number-one albums, and five multi-Platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her accolades extend to an American Music Award, seven Billboard Music Awards, and three MTV Video Music Awards. Time Magazine honored her as the 2021 Entertainer of the Year, and in 2022, Billboard named her Woman of the Year.
Her journey began in Murrieta, California, where Olivia was born to Jennifer, a school teacher, and Chris Rodrigo, a family therapist, making her their only child. She spent her formative years in the neighboring town of Temecula. Olivia was born with partial deafness in her left ear. She proudly identifies as Filipino American, with her father hailing from the Philippines and her mother having German and Irish roots. The family cherished Filipino traditions and cuisine, influenced by her paternal great-grandfather who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines during his teenage years. Olivia's musical upbringing was shaped by her parents' love for alternative rock bands like No Doubt, Pearl Jam, the White Stripes, and Green Day.
From a young age, Olivia Rodrigo displayed her passion for the arts. She began taking acting and vocal lessons in kindergarten and quickly picked up piano. Her participation in the after-school musical theater program at Lisa J. Mails Elementary School in Murrieta was a significant early step. By the age of 12, Olivia had also learned to play the guitar. It was during her early years that she developed an interest in songwriting, primarily influenced by country music and the iconic singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.
For a year, Olivia attended Dorothy McElhinney Middle School in Murrieta before her role in "Bizaardvark" led her to Los Angeles. From 2016 until her graduation in 2021, she was homeschooled to accommodate her burgeoning career.
Olivia Rodrigo made her on-screen debut in an Old Navy commercial, and her first major acting role was as Grace Thomas in the direct-to-video film "An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success" when she was just twelve years old. Her breakthrough came in 2016 when she starred as Paige Olvera, a guitarist, in the Disney Channel series "Bizaardvark," a role she maintained for three seasons.
In February 2019, she secured the starring role of Nini Salazar-Roberts in the Disney+ series "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," which premiered in November of that year. Her performance received critical acclaim, with Joel Keller from Decider describing her as "especially magnetic." In 2022, Olivia made the decision to leave the show at the conclusion of its third season to fully focus on her burgeoning music career.
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