Olivia Rodrigo's debut single 'Drivers License' has hit No 1 in the Billboard's Hot 100 chart. AFP
Olivia Rodrigo's debut single 'Drivers License' has hit No 1 in the Billboard's Hot 100 chart. AFP
Olivia Rodrigo's debut single 'Drivers License' has hit No 1 in the Billboard's Hot 100 chart. AFP
Olivia Rodrigo's debut single 'Drivers License' has hit No 1 in the Billboard's Hot 100 chart. AFP

Who is Olivia Rodrigo? The Filipino-American singer whose debut single has topped charts around the world


Samia Badih
  • English
  • Arabic

Olivia Rodrigo may be having the best time of her life.

The 17-year-old American actress and singer's debut single, Drivers License, has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, less than two weeks since its release.

The song, which was released on January 8, has quickly become a smash hit, breaking Spotify's record for single-day streams, excluding holiday songs. The track has also become the No 1 song in eight different countries, including the US and the UK.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I expect all of this support," wrote Rodrigo in a post on Instagram to her five million followers. "So grateful for Dan Nigro and everyone who has supported me in this crazy adventure. Thank you guys endlessly for listening."

On Instagram, the young singer shared a video of her as she listens, almost in disbelief, to her song on the radio for the first time. Last week, praise and support came in the form of a comment by none other than American singer Taylor Swift who wrote: "I say that's my baby and I'm proud."

Last year, Rodrigo signed with Interscope Records and Geffen Records, and Drivers License is the debut single from her upcoming album. The song which Rodrigo co-wrote with producer Nigro, is about heartache after a break-up.

Rodrigo is part Filipina on her father's side of the family.

Speaking of her heritage, she told the Centre for Asian American Media in 2018: "My great-grandfather immigrated [to the US] from the Philippines when he was just a teenager. He’s my grandma’s dad, and my grandpa is also Filipino as well.

"My dad grew up in a house where they were always making Filipino food, his grandpa always spoke Tagalog. All of those traditions have trickled down to our generation. Every Thanksgiving we have lumpia and things like that."

Rodrigo first stepped into the spotlight as an actress when she appeared on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark and later on Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Time will tell what is in store for the young artist, but no doubt 2021 is already off to a great start for her.

All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia

What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix

When Saturday

Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia

What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.

Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.

Salah in numbers

€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of 39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.

13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.

57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.

7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.

3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.

40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.

30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.

8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets