Billy Corgan Explains Why Olivia Rodrigo Is Popular With Rock Stars: “She’s Not Afraid”

Billy Corgan explained why he supports Olivia Rodrigo in a new interview, joining a list of rock figures who have praised her, including Sheryl Crow, Robert Smith, Jack White, Mick Jagger, Alanis Morissette and Stevie Nicks.

The subject came up on the Thursday (Oct. 22) episode of The New York Times’ Popcast. Hosts Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli asked Corgan why he has recently championed younger artists such as YUNGBLUD and sombr. They called Rodrigo an especially interesting case because two of her songs, “The Cure” and “Pretty Isn’t Pretty,” resemble “Disarm” and “1979,” respectively, and have drawn comparisons to The Smashing Pumpkins’ catalog.

The Chicago band’s frontman indicated he finds the similarities flattering rather than objectionable. “She’s so smart,” Corgan said of Rodrigo, whom he joined on stage for a duet of “33” at Lollapalooza this summer. “She’s super savvy.”

“I don’t know her much, but she’s figured out that the way to break free is to be free,” he continued. “She’s like, ‘Bring me all these influences.’ She’s not afraid. She’s not afraid to make an imperfect song. She’s not afraid to have one vocal slightly out of tune … Pop stars should be as authentic in their game as rock stars are authentic in their game.”

Corgan also agreed that connecting with younger artists has felt freeing. Because they weren’t around when The Smashing Pumpkins received poor reviews for albums that are now considered classics, their opinions of him are shaped purely by the music.

Other rock stars have spoken well of Rodrigo. Crow has praised her several times, calling her the “real deal” on The Tonight Show in 2023. Jagger told Billboard in the Rolling Stones’ cover story earlier this year, “She’s really good at [rock music] … the ability to change styles from what you think [her] original girly pop stuff is — it’s kind of interesting.”

Morissette and Nicks joined Rodrigo at her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival. White has stayed in contact with the former Disney star since they met in 2022, when he called her “very cool, very real.” Smith collaborated with Rodrigo on “What’s Wrong With Me,” a song on her third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, which topped the Billboard 200.

“Olivia’s desire to be recognized as a songwriter is very refreshing,” the frontman of The Cure told The Hollywood Reporter earlier in October. “It’s unmodern in a way … She was in London with me a while back. She played me something she wrote that morning, things that could take 14 years for many writers to get out, and she does it in a morning.”

Corgan’s full Popcast interview is below.

Source: Billboard