Olivia Rodrigo’s Father Was Left Emotional After Meeting The Cure’s Robert Smith
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It turns out that Olivia Rodrigo’s admiration for The Cure is a family affair. During her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live this past Wednesday, the pop sensation shared a heartwarming story about her father, Chris, and his brush with music royalty: Robert Smith.
Rodrigo explained that her dad is a lifelong, devoted fan of the legendary band. While attending Primavera Sound in Barcelona, he had the chance to connect with Smith backstage. According to the Grammy-winning artist, this trip marked her father’s 30th time seeing the band perform live.
“He is a diehard super fan,” Rodrigo told Kimmel. “My dad is usually quite stoic—he’s a protective, tough guy—but when he finally met Robert, he completely broke down. I’ve never seen him like that; the tears just started welling up in his eyes.”
She added that the moment was so impactful for her father that he now keeps a selfie of the two of them as his phone’s lock screen.
During that same festival, Rodrigo surprised the crowd with a guest set, during which Smith joined her on stage to debut their new collaboration, “What’s Wrong With Me.” The track is set to appear on the singer’s highly anticipated third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, launching this Friday, June 12.
“Robert has been the soundtrack to my life for as long as I can remember,” Rodrigo reflected in a letter to fans. “His music moves and inspires me in ways that are difficult to articulate.”
The influence of The Cure is woven throughout her new record, with the lead single “Drop Dead” featuring a nod to the classic hit “Just Like Heaven,” followed by a track aptly titled “The Cure.”
Rodrigo also shared the charming process behind selecting her album’s singles. Last Thanksgiving, while visiting family in Wisconsin, she played the full project for her relatives in a darkened room, feeling shy about their reactions. She had them cast anonymous ballots to choose the strongest tracks. “Everyone voted, and ‘The Cure’ was the clear number one,” she said.
Looking ahead to the album’s release, the 23-year-old is planning to celebrate her milestone in style. “When Sour came out, I was 17, and for Guts, I was 20,” she noted. “Now that I’m 23, I’m finally of legal drinking age, so I’m really looking forward to celebrating properly.”
