Olivia Rodrigo's life from Disney stardom to British boyfriend as GUTS tour hits Netflix

Grammy Awards: Olivia Rodrigo wins Best New Artist

Olivia Rodrigo, one of the globe's most sensational pop icons, is more than just a name on the hit charts.

The 21-year-old star, who recently brought her GUTS world tour to London, boasts an impressive resume beyond her viral tunes. From her breakout role in Disney's High School Musical series to her critically acclaimed debut album 'Sour', Rodrigo has now expanded her repertoire with a Netflix concert special.

Set to premiere on October 29, the GUTS World Tour special will give fans an exclusive look at behind-the-scenes content and a VIP experience of her performance at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles this past August.

As anticipation builds for the Netflix event, let's delve into Rodrigo's life story, touching on her famous former flame and her current romance with a Brit.

Tracing back to her formative years, Rodrigo was born in 2003, the sole child of Jennifer, a school teacher, and Chris, a therapist. While not musicians themselves, her parents were instrumental in nurturing her musical talents, reports the Mirror.

Early life and Disney career

Rodrigo starred in Disney's High School Musical series (Image: Disney)

Don't miss... Simran Bhogal's life now as Netflix's Sweet Bobby explores decade of deceit [LATEST]

At the tender age of five, they enrolled her in singing lessons, which led to performances in local venues and contests.

Rodrigo's musical journey wasn't without its challenges; she confessed to Elle magazine that piano lessons at nine were a struggle: "Oh my God, I hated it [...] I'd literally cry before every lesson." Yet, it was these very lessons that ignited her passion for song writing.

Acting was a significant part of her early life, with acting lessons beginning in childhood and her parents driving her 90 miles to Los Angeles for auditions.

window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20241015.min.js"

Their dedication bore fruit when she secured a leading role in the dramedy An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success at just 10 years old. This was followed by a role in the Disney Channel sitcom Bizaardvark, before landing her breakthrough role as the female lead in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, at a mere 15 years old.

While the series marked a significant milestone in her acting career, it also launched her musical success. Rodrigo penned a song for the show titled All I Want, which garnered fan praise and charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

She subsequently signed with music label Geffen Records in 2020 and exited the High School Musical series in 2022.

SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

TikTok breakthrough

Rodrigo's debut single Driver's License received wide acclaim (Image: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

Rodrigo's first single, Driver's License, was an immediate sensation, debuting at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks. The single also topped Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music charts - creating a significant buzz on social media.

The song became a viral sensation on TikTok, with thousands of fans posting videos lip syncing to the ballad - it currently boasts over 900k videos of users worldwide singing it.

Her debut album, Sour, released to widespread acclaim in 2021, won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Rodrigo triumphed over established pop artists including Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.

In 2023, Rodrigo sent the internet into a frenzy once again in 2023 with the release of Vampire, the lead single from her sophomore album. Following in the footsteps of Driver's License, it shot to the top of the Hot 100 chart. Vampire also earned a nomination for Best Song of the Year at the Grammys.

Her latest album, GUTS, dropped in 2023, with a world tour set to kick off in February 2024.

Is Olivia Rodrigo in a relationship?

Rodrigo is dating actor Louis Partridge (Image: Eric Charbonneau/ Getty)

Rodrigo is currently dating actor Louis Partridge, known for his role in Enola Holmes. In October 2023, The Sun reported a romantic connection between the two, which neither confirmed nor denied.

However, they were later spotted sharing a kiss, leaving fans convinced of their relationship.

Rodrigo's song So American is rumoured to be about Partridge, with lyrics that lend themselves to speculation. She sings: "He laughs at all my jokes and he says I'm 'So American'."

Rodrigo dated co-star Joshua Bassett, they met on the set of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Image: Chelsea Lauren/REX/Shutterstock)

During her High School Musical days, Rodrigo dated co-star Joshua Bassett. Fans believe he inspired several of her songs, including her breakout hit Driver's License.

Bassett went on to date singer Sabrina Carpenter, sparking speculation that Carpenter and Rodrigo subtly referenced each other in songs released around the time of their relationships.

GUTS World Tour will be available to stream on Netflix from October 29