Olivia Rodrigo has revealed that she came close to having an anxiety attack, moments before taking to the Glastonbury stage as a headliner in 2025. The 23-year-old pop star, whose third studio album ‘You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love’ arrives on June 12, opened up about the nerve-wracking experience.Speaking with BBC on Wednesday June 10, Rodrigo recalled the moment vividly. “I remember having a near anxiety attack in the bathroom, like, ‘How am I going to do this? I don’t know if I’m ready,'” she said. “But something overcame me the second I stepped on stage and started singing. I felt totally calm and so in my element. I’m not very spiritual or religious, but it’s moments like that where I feel music is just so magical that you just can’t really describe it.“
Olivia Rodrigo on headlining Glastonbury
Rodrigo attributed her pre-show nerves in part to the deep reverence she feels for the festival and its heritage. Despite the nerves, the night ultimately lived up to every expectation. “I put so much love and care into that set and spent so much time thinking about it,” she said. “The fact that it translated. It was totally a dream come true. One of the best weekends of my life.”
Her Glastonbury journey began in 2022 when she made her debut at the festival. In 2025, she returned as a headliner and brought out The Cure’s frontman Robert Smith for a surprise performance of ‘Just Like Heaven’ and ‘Friday I’m in Love’. When she was first announced as a headliner, she shared her excitement on Instagram Stories. “Headlining Glasto has been one of my biggest dreams for so long. Truly can’t believe this. So grateful and sooo excited. Hope to see you there,” she wrote.
The story behind Olivia Rodrigo’s new album title
In a recent cover story with Dazed, Rodrigo explained how the title of her new album came about, crediting producer Dan Nigro with the phrase that gave the project its name. “I was having a conversation with him and he said, ‘You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,’ and I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to go for,'” she recalled.
“I just think the title captures what I was trying to go for: the pitfalls of being in love,” she added. “It is a little bit of a mouthful, but it’s worth it. I’m obsessed with the title.”
What comes next for Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo has already released two singles from the album, ‘Drop Dead’ and ‘The Cure’, ahead of the full release on June 12. Following the album’s arrival, she will embark on The Unravelled Tour, running from September 2026 through May 2027, taking her music to audiences around the world.