Olivia Rodrigo's Life and Career in Photos, from Childhood to Disney

Before She Spilled Her Guts and Got Sour: Photos of a Young Olivia Rodrigo's Rise to Fame

The singer/actress has gone from child star to Disney star to superstar at a fast pace

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Published on July 7, 2024 10:30AM EDT

Olivia Rodrigo in 2011 competing in The Boys & Girls Club Idol at the Rotary Club of Old Town Temeluca — A young Olivia Rodrigo in 2011. Photo:
Courtesy Video Adventures Video Productions

This is the story of a talented kid turned Disney star turned pop legend in her own time ... who's just getting started.

Olivia Rodrigo has been everywhere in recent years, thanks to her Disney Channel days and perhaps, most notably, the release of her blockbuster 2021 single, "driver's license." She's also the subject of PEOPLE's latest special issue, available on newsstands and Amazon.com now.

"When I wrote my first album, I was 17," she tells PEOPLE. "I think everyone is super insecure at 17 and doubting themselves constantly. 'Am I talented? Can I do this?' [Now] I'm a lot happier, and I take myself a lot less seriously. I trust my gut more, and I trust my intuitions."

Before that confidence came local talent contests, a stint with American Girl and more childhood dreams, as seen in the photos that follow. But they all brought Rodrigo, now 21, to where she is today.

"What is next?" she asks in her PEOPLE story. "I don't know! I'll get back to you in a few months."

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Idol Eyes

When Olivia Rodrigo's local Boys & Girls Club staged their take on American Idol in 2011, the singer introduced herself, explaining that "for fun" she liked having sleepovers with friends.

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She's a Winner

"I want to win Idol because I like having fun, and competing is fun for me," the young starlet said at the time.

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First Steps

Boldly taking on the Barbra Streisand showstopper “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Olivia Rodrigo, at just 8, earned first place in her age group.

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Magic Mic

Olivia Rodrigo performing at a young age — A young Olivia Rodrigo.
Olivia Rodrigo/Instagram

The young singer clearly had a vision, as evidenced by this Disney-devoted home photo.

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Sing Thing

In 2013, Olivia Rodrigo reached for a big note to triumph in a Temecula, California, Boys & Girls Club Idol talent competition.

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Commercial Success

Olivia Rodrigo in an Old Navy commerical — A young Olivia Rodrigo in an Old Navy commercial as a child.

Olivia Rodrigo was 12 when she landed this 2015 holiday spot for Old Navy (above) featuring Portlandia stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.

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American Girl

Next she scored her first starring role in this entry in the American Girl series, 2015's Grace Stirs Up Success.

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Next Step

Disney Channel's "Bizaardvark" stars Jake Paul as Dirk, Olivia Rodrigo as Paige, Madison Hu as Frankie, Ethan Wacker as Bernie and DeVore Ledridge as Amelia. — Olivia Rodrigo on Disney's 'Bizaardvark' in 2016.
Disney Channel/Nicole Wilder

One year later, the rising star made her small-screen debut on the Disney series Bizaardvark.

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Besties for the Resties

Olivia met Bizaardvark costar Madison Hu (together in 2016) at an early audition for the show. The connection was instant. Madison later told Vogue. “It was immediately like, ‘Olivia’s my best friend.’ ”

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Disney Days

MADISON HU, DEVORE LEDRIDGE, OLIVIA RODRIGO, ETHAN WACKER at D23 Expo, Saturday, July 15, 2017 — Olivia Rodrigo at the D23 Expo in 2017.
Image Group LA via Getty

Olivia Rodrigo (with her Bizaardvark castmates Madison Hu, DeVore Ledridge and Ethan Wacker in 2017) would admit that she found it hard to balance work with just being a kid.

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Love Story

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES. OLIVIA RODRIGO and JOSHUA BASSETT — Olivia Rodrigo on 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' in 2019.
Disney+/Fred Hayes

On High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Olivia Rodrigo played Nini, whose ex Ricky (Joshua Bassett) joins the drama club to win her back after she finds a new love.

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Cool Kids

MARK ST. CYR, SOFIA WYLIE, DARA RENEE, FRANKIE A. RODRIGUEZ, OLIVIA RODRIGO, JOSHUA BASSETT, LARRY SAPERSTEIN, JULIA ROSE LESTER, MATT CORNETT, KATE REINDERS, 2019 — Olivia Rodrigo on 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' in 2019.
Troy Harvey via Getty

Olivia Rodrigo (center, with her costars) learned she was cast on the High School Musical spinoff while studying for a test in a cafe.

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The Write Stuff

Olivia Rodrigo as Nini in 'High School Musical: The Musical - The Series' TV Show Season 1 - 2019 — Olivia Rodrigo on 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' in 2019.
Walt Disney Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock

“Nini and I are very similar,” Olivia Rodrigo (seen in 2019) told The New Yorker of her High School Musical character. “She writes songs about boys and puts them on social media, and that’s totally something that I do." She later added to Variety, "I write about what I know and what I am feeling intensely."

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Pen to Paper

The singer/songwriter frequently performed on the series and even composed a song that aired. "It's interesting — heartbreaks when you're 16 or 17 — because you don't yet have that perspective of knowing that life goes on," she told The Guardian in 2021.

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