Olivia Rodrigo Reveals '90s Rock Album That Inspires Her
- - Olivia Rodrigo Reveals '90s Rock Album That Inspires Her
Liz LindainDecember 16, 2025 at 12:06 AM
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While writing her hit songs, Olivia Rodrigo will always go back to this record.
The 22-year-old singer became an overnight success in January 2021 when she released her "drivers license," and then her first album, SOUR, a few months later. Her debut shattered records as the biggest album of 2021, broke Spotify's record for most-streamed female artist album in a week, topped charts globally and became the longest-running debut in the Billboard 200's top 10 this century. In addition, she won Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
Two years later, Rodrigo released her sophomore album, GUTS, which includes the hits "vampire," "pretty isn't pretty," "lacy" and "bad idea right?." After touring for the majority of 2024 and 2025, Rodrigo is reportedly in Los Angeles working on her third studio album with her producer, Dan Nigro.
Olivia Rodrigo performs onstage during the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
In a clip released ahead of her appearance on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Music Makes Us podcast, the singer was asked by host Kathleen Hanna if there was a song or album that she goes back to when she needs to reconnect with herself or remind herself why she makes music.
"Honestly, I listen to Jagged Little Pill when I'm feeling like I don't know what to say or like 'who am I?'" she responds. "Every part of what makes a human being a human being, it feels like encapsulated in that record."
Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette, and was released by Maverick on June 13, 1995. She recorded and produced the album with Glen Ballard in Hollywood, and it includes the hits "Ironic" and "You Oughta Know."
"I [explicit] love that album, as like, everyone in the planet does. It really reminds me of what I'm trying to go after," she continued. "As a writer, that's always like the most inspiring thing when you just feel like someone just needed to say something. They're not just trying to write a song to try to make it or go big or try to make people like it. It just feels like her diary in the best way."
Olivia will participate on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 'Music Makes Us' podcast, out tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/2cELjlDeBr
— Olivia Rodrigo Daily (@DailyRodrigo) December 15, 2025
Though the two artists are now friends, this is not the first time the pop star has praised Morissette publicly. The duo were also paired together for Rolling Stone's "Musicians on Musicians" series back in October 2021, where they talked about their careers, life in the public eye and their songwriting processes. In addition, the "deja vu" singer inducted Morissette into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in December 2022, and in January 2024, Rodrigo appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where she and the talk show host both talked about their love for the Canadian singer.
The 51-year-old singer also has praised Rodrigo publicly as well, telling the Los Angeles Times in October that she is "blown away" by the Gen-Z popstars, citing specifically the "happier" singer in the Q&A.
Alanis Morissette and Olivia Rodrigo attend the 2022 Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame Gala at Massey Hall on September 24, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario.Jeremy Chan/Getty Images
Rodrigo's episode on Music Makes Us will be out on Tuesday, and can be streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio and the official NPR website. Debuting last month, the podcast by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame conducts artist interviews with various musicians across genres about their music's impact on society.
Related: '90s Pop Star Addresses Olivia Rodrigo’s Music Generation
Related: Olivia Rodrigo Praises ‘80s Star, 66, in ‘Grateful’ Message
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
