We’re naturally inclined to want to discover more and more about our favorite artists — and that often includes learning a bit about their families. Were they a nepo baby? Were any of their parents musically inclined? Are they currently caught up in a major family drama that has divided the siblings? Oh, oops, I might be projecting Miley Cyrus’ family feud here.
Anyway — some stories are just not as dramatic as others, and that’s usually how we get celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo, who seems relatively normal. Despite all the fan wars and Billboard battles stirred up by overly intense fans and haters, Rodrigo has remained quite… grounded. And truthfully, we might attribute that to her upbringing and her relationship with her parents — which essentially solidified her as a person and musician. So, let’s take a quick look at her mom, who is undoubtedly one of Rodrigo’s biggest confidants.
Who are Olivia Rodrigo’s parents?
Olivia Rodrigo is the daughter of Chris and Jennifer Rodrigo—neither of whom are musicians. Her father, Chris, is a therapist, and her mother, Jennifer, is a teacher. Despite not being directly involved in her success (no nepo babies here), Olivia has often shared that both her parents have played an indispensable role in her songwriting process and overall passion for music — especially her mother.
For starters, the singer attributes her love for all kinds of music to her parents’ diverse tastes. In an interview with Vogue, she recounted that her first concert as a kid was a Weezer show, and she developed her taste around her parents’ preference for grunge and alternative music, growing up listening to No Doubt, The White Stripes, and ’80s metal. “He’s [her dad] introducing me to all the bands he went to see when he was my age,” she said.
Olivia’s mom has played a similarly important role in her life. It seems the singer relies on her mother, Jennifer, to provide the kind of harsh criticism that others might avoid. “I think she has great music taste,” Rodrigo told EW. “But she’s a really harsh critic despite being my mom. And she’s always honest with me, which I really appreciate.” Olivia also admitted that her mother taught her that music is about how it makes people feel, not necessarily about it being technically flawless.
“Her favorite music is punk and metal — really hard, gritty stuff — so she’s always been the one to instill in me that, ‘I don’t care about the technicalities — if it makes you feel something, then it’s good music,’” Rodrigo told Apple Music, as reported by Teen Vogue. “If my mom doesn’t like it, I know it’s not music that makes you feel.”
Her first hit single, “Drivers License,” is a direct example of her mom’s candid and unbiased approach. “When I played ‘Drivers License’ for my mom for the first time, she said, ‘The bridge is really weird. It’s too much; it doesn’t fit with the rest of the song,’” Olivia revealed in an interview with Apple Music. “In hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t take that to heart, but she’s very honest.”
Thankfully, even her mom’s criticism never discouraged Rodrigo’s musical pursuits outside of Disney. After all, as much as she wanted to quit piano, her parents encouraged her to continue — and now we get to hear “Guts” on repeat. Everyone say: Thank you, Jennifer and Chris!