Olivia Rodrigo has graced the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge once more, delivering a poignant and sophisticated rendition of CMAT’s “When a Good Man Cries” this past Tuesday.
Ahead of the June 12 release of her third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, the pop luminary surprised her audience by pairing the CMAT cover with a powerful performance of her latest single, “The Cure.”
The tribute did not go unnoticed by CMAT (Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson), who shared her delight via a lighthearted Instagram post, quipping: “She sang it better than me, so I’m officially toast.”
The cover has resonated deeply with listeners online. On Reddit, fans praised the unexpected pairing, noting the beautiful bridge between two distinct musical worlds. “When a Good Man Cries” is a standout track from CMAT’s critically acclaimed 2025 album, Euro-Country—a record that secured both a Mercury Prize nomination and an Ivor Novello Award for best album.
CMAT’s trajectory has been meteoric, highlighted by a major appearance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and the viral success of her single “Take a Sexy Picture of Me.” The latter ignited a TikTok phenomenon known as the “Woke Macarena,” propelling the artist to her first appearance on the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
This performance arrives during a vulnerable time for CMAT, who recently took a stand against the body-shaming she encountered following her BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend appearance. Her stance sparked a wave of solidarity across the industry. Rodrigo has similarly pushed back against unsolicited scrutiny regarding her own aesthetic choices, notably addressing the toxic cultural attitudes toward young women’s clothing in a recent conversation with The New York Times.
Rodrigo remains a staple of the Live Lounge series; her 2023 cover of Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” remains one of the most-watched sessions in the show’s history. The 23-year-old superstar kicked off her current album cycle in April with “Drop Dead,” an atmospheric anthem that debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
Watch Rodrigo’s evocative take on “When a Good Man Cries” at the top of the page, and check out her performance of “The Cure” below:
