Olivia Rodrigo Reflects on David Byrne’s Touching Cover of ‘Drivers License’ for its 5th Anniversary: ‘I Wept Hearing His Version’

Olivia Rodrigo in June 2025; David Byrne in May 2025.
Credit:

Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Need to Know

• Olivia Rodrigo is celebrating the fifth anniversary of “Drivers License.”
• She shared a cover of the song by David Byrne on Thursday, January 8.
• Rodrigo announced an upcoming series of reimagined *SOUR* covers from favorite artists.

In a notable celebration of her hit song, Olivia Rodrigo marks the fifth anniversary of "Drivers License." The 22-year-old artist shared a cover of the track, reinterpreted by legendary musician David Byrne, on Thursday, January 8. In her social media posts, she reflected on the making of the ballad and her musical journey.

Byrne’s version of "Drivers License" features an altered production style and reinterpreted lyrics reflecting his perspective as a 73-year-old man. He sings, "And you’re probably with that blonde boy / The one that always made me doubt / He’s so much younger than me / Everything I’m insecure about."

Rodrigo noted that this cover is the first in a series of reworked tracks from her debut album, SOUR, which is also celebrating its fifth anniversary. On Instagram, she expressed her excitement for the collaborations ahead, stating, “I’m so excited to announce an upcoming series of reimagined SOUR covers from some of my favorite artists ever.”

She further emphasized her admiration for Byrne, describing him as “nothing short of a legend,” and admitted that she cried upon hearing his rendition of the song.

The new cover is available to stream, with fans also having the option to purchase a 7-inch vinyl that includes Byrne’s version and a joint performance of "Burning Down the House" at the 2025 Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City.

Rodrigo expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I’m stoked!! Go give it a listen,” and has also released a special vinyl pressing of the original "Drivers License," complete with her live performance from the festival.

"Drivers License," released in January 2021 as the lead single from SOUR, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and maintained its position for eight consecutive weeks amid speculation surrounding its personal narrative involving a reported love triangle.

The song garnered Rodrigo significant accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance and two MTV Video Music Awards for Song of the Year and Push Performance of the Year.

In a reflective Instagram post, Rodrigo shared memories from the song’s release and expressed gratitude, stating, "This song has totally changed my life in ways I still can’t totally wrap my head around." She looks forward to performing "red lights stop signs" with fans at her concerts for years to come, saying, “Happy birthday DL.”