Olivia Rodrigo remains deeply connected to the song that started it all, recently confirming that her debut single will remain a permanent fixture in her concert setlists for the foreseeable future.
Marking the fifth anniversary of her monumental breakout hit, “Drivers License,” the pop sensation reflected on the 2021 ballad that propelled her into the global spotlight. “This song fundamentally altered the course of my life in ways I still haven’t quite processed,” she shared on Instagram this Thursday. “I am eternally grateful for this incredible chapter.”
The singer-songwriter also promised fans that the high-energy communal experience of the song’s climax isn’t going anywhere. “I can’t wait to belt out ‘red lights, stop signs’ with you all at every performance for the rest of my life!” she wrote, citing the powerful bridge of the track, which spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Rodrigo was only 17 years old when the single premiered, making history as the youngest artist to ever debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Looking back at archival photos from that whirlwind era, the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series alumna noted that while she looks like a “baby” in the pictures, the memories still feel remarkably fresh.
To celebrate the milestone, Rodrigo released a special rendition of “Drivers License” performed by the legendary David Byrne. In a follow-up social media post, she hailed the Talking Heads founder as one of her “ultimate heroes,” confessing that his unique interpretation of the song moved her to tears. The two artists previously collaborated during Rodrigo’s 2025 Governors Ball headlining performance, where they teamed up for a cover of “Burning Down the House.”
The Byrne cover serves as the opening act for a larger celebration. With her debut album SOUR approaching its own five-year milestone, Rodrigo announced an upcoming series featuring reimagined covers of the album’s tracks by some of her most respected musical influences.
While “Drivers License” continues to be a source of pride, Rodrigo has admitted that her perspective on her early catalog is evolving. In a previous conversation with The Los Angeles Times, she mentioned that there are certain tracks she feels she has distanced herself from. “It can be bittersweet for fans because those might be their favorite songs,” she noted at the time, “but I feel like I’ve simply outgrown some of that earlier material.”
