Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.aol.com
Olivia Rodrigo seems pretty good at this music thing for a girl who never aspired to be a global megastar.
The 23-year-old has said in interviews that she wants to be a songwriter, not the biggest pop star that ever lived. But with a hot album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” burning up the charts, Rodrigo is one of the biggest music stars currently alive.
More specifically, she’s the fifth most popular artist in the world, according to Pollstar’s ranking for Oct. 23.
Rodrigo is certainly popular in Columbus, where she sold out Nationwide Arena in 2024 during her “GUTS” world tour. Now on “The Unraveled” tour, she’ll return for a two-nighter at the Schottenstein Center.
English pop-rockers Wolf Alice will be the special guest at both shows, which will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 29-30.
Tickets may be limited or sold out. Fans can visit bit.ly/4kgt6La to join Rodrigo’s official waitlist for a chance to get access if more tickets are released.
Rodrigo’s fanbase largely consists of teens and young millennials, many of whom knew her in her Disney days. However, her blend of pop-punk and ‘90s-inspired indie rock also lures fans of artists like Paramore, No Doubt, Elastica and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Let’s take a look at some of Rodrigo’s impressive achievements in her brief recording career, as well as a couple of reasons why the Grammy winner rocks.
Olivia Rodrigo is a Billboard beast
On Oct. 24, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” returned to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a third week, making it the longest-running No. 1 album on the chart by a female artist in 2026.
“drop dead,” the album’s first single, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April, making Rodrigo the first artist to debut the lead song from all of her studio albums at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Rodrigo is also the only artist born this century who’s landed multiple Hot 100 chart-toppers. In addition to “drop dead,” her No. 1 hits are “vampire,” “good 4 u” and “drivers license.”
She pays attention to things that most people ignore
Rodrigo is often exalted as a modern feminist icon due to her vocal activism and charitable efforts, which primarily focus on women’s and girls’ issues.
Her worldwide Fund 4 Good initiative helps community-based nonprofits that support reproductive rights, girls’ education and preventing gender-based violence.
A portion of ticket sales from the Oct. 29-30 concerts will benefit the fund.
In August, Rodrigo curated and headlined the Daisy Chain Fields Festival in Irvine, California, with artists like Chappell Roan and Doechii, and special guests including Stevie Nicks.
The all-women event raised $10 million for 10 organizations, and philanthropist Melinda French Gates matched the amount, bringing the total to $20 million.
A Columbus confection to ‘drop dead’ for
Rodrigo struck a sweet deal in 2023, when she and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams teamed up to promote the “GUTS” album with the Home Scooped Girl. The special purple waffle cone was named for her song “ballad of a homeschooled girl.”
This accomplishment should give Rodrigo bragging rights over other pop stars who have visited Columbus. After all, there’s no Joe Jonas jelly roll.
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at [email protected].
