US singer Olivia Rodrigo attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in this March 15, 2026 file photo. Jean Baptiste Lacroix, AFP
Filipino-American singer and chart-topper Olivia Rodrigo is on top of the world promoting her third studio album entitled “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.”
Rodrigo spoke exclusively to ABS-CBN News about the album, which has already begun making its mark in Los Angeles. One of the massive graffiti walls near Vine Street and Hollywood Boulevard now features its cover art.
Graffiti wall in Los Angeles. MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News
“I know exactly what you're talking about. How cool is that?” said Rodrigo, who is in the middle of a huge promo blitz for the album.
“I've just been living with this album for so long and working on it so painstakingly, and so to put it out into the world and watch people react to it and watch people embrace it and enfold it into their lives is just really such an honor, and it's been very, very joyful for sure.”
The album also gave Rodrigo more creative control than ever before, she said.
“I think it's just as I get older, I get so much clearer on what I want and what my tastes are and what I want to say, and so yeah, it definitely gets more fun. It's more fun now than it ever was for sure,” she said.
Compared to her first two musical efforts, ‘guts’ and ‘sour’, ‘pretty sad’ shows more growth and emotional depth.
“I mean, so much has changed. I think you know, I've been putting out albums since I was 17, and so the difference between a 17-year-old album and a 22-year-old album is quite stark, but I just think I have hopefully a little bit more emotional maturity and, you know, can look deeper and be more introspective in a way that's slightly more intelligent, here's to hoping, so yeah, I'd say all those things,” she said.
Simply put, Rodrigo is growing up together with her solid fanbase worldwide.
“One of the reasons why like going to or playing a concert is so fun, you know, because you kind of get to connect with all these people over your shared experiences,” she said.
Speaking of concerts, Rodrigo still blushes over her last concert in Manila back in 2024, which was a benefit concert and a homecoming event at the same time.
“The tickets are very inexpensive. I donated all the proceeds to charity. It was one of my favorite shows I've ever played. It was one of the most beautiful, welcoming crowds I've ever witnessed in my life,” she said.
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MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News
“pretty sad’” was released last June 12, the same day as the Philippine Independence Day celebration, and Rodrigo said she has always been and will continue to be proud to be a Filipino.
“I am so proud to be Filipino,” she said. “Everyone in the Philippines is just so warm, and so encouraging, and so loving. I just take their love with me everywhere I go.”
And for the first time, she reacted to the title given to her by her Filipino fans as the “pambansang pinsan” (national cousin) for her deep appreciation and love for the Filipino culture.
“I love it. I love it so much. I'll take it. That’s amazing. Wow. I wear that with honor and pride. That's amazing,” she said.
‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’ is already out and available for streaming and download on all digital platforms.