Olivia Rodrigo's life and career in pictures: From Disney star to one of the biggest names in music

In 2021 there was one voice that was heard across radios across the world and dominated online streams.

After getting her start on Disney Channel, Olivia Rodrigo become a seemingly overnight sensation with the release of her chart topping hit Drivers License.

From there, the hits just kept coming with the debut album SOUR which won the artist her first ever Grammy Awards.

Now the singer is set to bring her successful sophmore album GUTS to Australia later in the year.

As fans prepare to fight for tickets this week, take a look back through Rodrigo's rise to fame and how she became one of the most screamed name in a matter of months.

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Before anyone knew her name, Olivia Rodrigo was just a Taylor Swift-obsessed kid taking singing lessons in Murrieta.

At just five-years-old she already showed a knack for songwriting, penning her very own Christmas track named The Bels. 

Between after-school musical theater and taking part in singing competitions, the young star was already paving the way to music fame before she even reached her teen years.

By the time she reached her tweens, Rodrigo was ready to try her hand at acting.

The star booked her first ever film An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success at just 12 in 2015.

The acting novice starred as Grace Thomas in the film, sporting side bangs and some bright coloured looks while venturing to Paris.

A year after her screen debut, Olivia Rodrigo got her big break with Disney.

The child star booked a lead role as Paige on the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark, also starring her now bestie Madison Hu and the Paul brothers.

On top of launching her into the spotlight, the Disney show marked another big chance for the 12-year-old.

Rodrigo's parents took her out of public school, moved to Los Angeles and officially began homeschooling her to support her growing career.

The show would go on for three seasons, taking Rodrigo into her teens.

For the star, it was also a time where she went through "an identity crisis on steroids."

"Most 14-year-olds aren't in a room with adults being like, 'So, what's your brand?'" she explained to Elle Magazine.

In the same year her time on Bizaardvark came to a close, Olivia Rodrigo had already lined up her next Disney Channel project.

The rising star landed the role of Nini in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – a show paying homage to the original iconic film trilogy.

While on the show, Rodrigo tested out her songwriting talents by writing two songs for the series: All I Want and The Rose Song.

"It sort of felt like a magical experience when I wrote The Rose Song," the singer told USA TODAY.

"I wrote the first version chords in 20 minutes the morning after ("High School Musical" producer Tim Federle) called me and told me about the concept of the song. It felt like it was meant to be."

The show would also introduce her to co-star Joshua Bassett – the muse for many of her biggest hits off her debut album Sour.

During season one on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Rodrigo penned the show's breakout track All I Want.

The star was just 16 when she wrote the emotional ballad and performed sitting at a piano in a pink tulle gown for the music video.

Rodrigo would stay on the show for two seasons before departing in the third season to pursue her music career.

Who would've thought that getting your license could make you an international success seemingly overnight?

This was the case for Olivia Rodrigo after she released her breakout hit Drivers License in January 2021.

After signing with Geffen Records, the song was released as the first single off her debut album SOUR and launched Rodrigo to superstardom.

The heartwrenching record-breaking track, which came with an artsy and visually stunning music video, quickly climbed the charts to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles.

The track also broke the record for the fastest solo song to reach 500 million streams on Spotify in its first few weeks.

"still in disbelief that people care about what I have to say. ahhhhh so many butterflies!!!!! thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!" the singer thanked her fans after the track's success.

And Drivers License was just the beginning for Rodrigo...

After Drivers license put her voice on radios across the world, Olivia Rodrigo was back for a second serving of success with her next single Deja Vu.

A month after the track came out in March, both Deja Vu and Drivers License were in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Before her first album had even come out, Olivia Rodrigo was starting to be noticed by some big names in the industry.

Rodrigo had been a well-known fan of Taylor Swift, so fans aptly lost their minds when the singer finally met Swift in person for the first time at the 2021 Brit Awards.

Olivia Rodrigo went three for three with her next single Good 4 U which became an instant hit.

The singer transformed into a cheerleader for her next music video, which would become a rock anthem for teens everywhere.

In the same month, Rodrigo achieved another huge career milestone – making her Saturday Night Live debut.

The pop star wowed audiences around the world with her performances of Good 4 U and Drivers License on the iconic show. 

"def one of the coolest experiences of my life," the singer wrote to Instagram. 

May 21, 2021 was one of the biggest days in Olivia Rodrigo's career to date.

After years of singing lessons, countless Disney television episodes and the success of her first three singles, the 18-year-old singer's hard work paid off with the release of her debut album SOUR..

Featuring tracks such as Jealousy, Jealousy, Brutal and Traitor, the album solidified Rodrigo's unique sound and took her from one hit wonder to certified pop star.

"every song is so personal and close to my heart. getting to share them with people is the most special thing I've ever done in my life," she wrote to Instagram.

"whatever happens with the album I'm just so grateful I got to work with all these incredible people," she continued.

"And I'm so lucky songwriting and music exists. I hope you guys enjoy the 34 minutes and 46 seconds of me spilling my guts out that is called sour."

"thank you for helping me turn all my unhappy feelings into one of the best moments of my life💜💜💜"

In June 2021, Olivia Rodrigo could add high school graduate to her extensive resume.

The singer said goodbye to her high school years by posting a pic in her cap and gown to her millions of fans.

"bye high school!!!!!!!" Rodrigo captioned the post, entering a new era in her life. 

Hot off the success of her debut album, the singer had an extra surprise for fans.

In June Olivia Rodrigo announced she would be releasing a livestreamed concert film called SOUR Prom.

The teen drew inspiration from the movie Carrie with her tiara and bouquet for the promo photos.

"since i never got to go to prom, I wanted to throw a little prom party with my fav ppl (you guys obvs)," she wrote to Instagram.

The singer would later release a documentary film about her debut album in March 2022 titled Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u.

After rising through the music ranks, Olivia Rodrigo used her fame to make her mark on politics.

The 18-year-old spoke at a press conference at the White House in July 2021 to urge young people to get vaccinated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only was Olivia Rodrigo's debut album a commercial success, but it quickly became Grammy Award certified. 

After scoring seven Grammy Award nominations, Rodrigo swept her first ceremony with three trophies for the night.

The pop star took home Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance for Drivers License and Best Pop Vocal Album.

"I wanna thank my mum for being supportive of all of my dreams, no matter how crazy," the singer said in her acceptance speech for the third gong.

"And I wanna thank my mum and my dad for being equally as proud of me for winning a GRAMMY as they were when I learned how to do a back walkover."

After taking home three Grammys, it was time to take her record-breaking debut album on the road.

Olivia Rodrigo kicked off her SOUR Tour in Portland on April 5, 2022.

Complete with stunning butterfly and sequin costumes, the singer captivated fans across the US and Europe with some of her biggest hits. 

The singer even had special guest Avril Lavigne join her in Toronto to belt out the noughties anthem Complicated.

Over two years since her debut album SOUR launched her name, a now 20-year-old Olivia Rodrigo was back with more music.

The pop star announced her next single Vampire in June 2023.

"writing this song helped me sort through lots of feelings of regret, anger, and heartache. it's one of my favorite songs on the album and it felt very cathartic to finish," she later told fans on Instagram.

Just days after revealing a new single, she had another exciting announcement up her sleeve...

The singer revealed the single would be the first from her sophmore album titled GUTS. 

Welcome to the sophmore album era!

After her singles Vampire and Bad Idea Right? Olivia Rodrigo finally released her second album GUTS to the world.

The album captured all the things fans had come to love and expect from Rodrigo, with a similar purple aesthetic, heartbreaking lyrics and edgy tracks.

Taking to Instagram the star revealed making her second album, which would earn six Grammy nominations, was "so fun and scary and thrilling and fulfilling."

Olivia Rodrigo followed in Taylor Swift's footsteps by writing a song for The Hunger Games franchise.

The pop star released her track Can't Catch Me Now for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

"When they asked me if I was interested in writing for this, I was like, 'Oh, of course! I'm such a fan of everything Hunger Games," Rodrigo told Variety.