Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo is igniting a passion for guitar playing among a new wave of admirers, particularly women.
However, Rodrigo – whose guitar-driven hits have resulted in three number-one singles, spending a cumulative 11 weeks atop the Billboard charts – has always openly acknowledged her musical influences. A heartwarming moment occurred when a young fan, the daughter of one of those very inspirations, experienced this connection firsthand.
Artists such as the Breeders, Hole, and L7, along with the broader Riot Grrrl movement, are fundamental to Rodrigo’s musical identity. Their legacy of unapologetic songwriting and powerful female voices was instrumental in shaping her unique artistic vision. This background also explains her choice to tour with an all-female live band and her frequent use of a custom-finished Music Man St. Vincent electric guitar.
In essence, Rodrigo’s rock influences permeate her sound, captivating a generation of listeners and aiding the electric guitar’s return to the mainstream. Yet, she consistently honors the artists who paved her path.
In a recent discussion with NME, Melissa Auf der Maur – who played bass on Hole’s landmark album Celebrity Skin – was asked if she recognized her band’s impact on contemporary artists. Her reply was deeply revealing.
“When I secured tickets for my daughter to see Olivia Rodrigo for her 13th birthday [in 2024], we received a backstage invitation,” she recalled. “Olivia Rodrigo then told my daughter, ‘None of this would be possible without your mother.’ That’s when the direct connections became undeniable to me.”
Auf der Maur further noted that Rodrigo’s music consistently evokes the alternative sound of the ’90s.
“In Olivia Rodrigo’s recordings, I discern the ’90s influence in both the songwriting and production. And, of course, her debut album, Sour, features artwork that pays homage to Hole’s Live Through This, with its beauty-queen imagery. But hearing that sentiment expressed to my daughter, right in front of me, was genuinely one of the most fulfilling moments of my existence.”
Nevertheless, Courtney Love, Hole’s bandleader, initially found the visual parallels somewhat unsettling, leading to a public discussion on X in 2021. Rodrigo later downplayed any potential friction between the two.
Regardless, it is evident that Rodrigo is a staunch advocate for ’90s alternative rock and the powerful female voices it empowered – a group in which Auf der Maur is prominently included.
Separately, producer and commentator Rick Beato has credited Rodrigo, along with fellow rising star Chappell Roan, with ushering the guitar solo back into pop music. Rodrigo’s 2025 live performances reportedly included seven solos, and she has even encouraged her lead guitarist to perform with greater flair on stage.
Rodrigo also played a role in inducting The White Stripes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in December, revealing that she maintained a fan page dedicated to Jack White’s band when she was only 13.
That same night, Warren Zevon was also honored, with David Letterman delivering an emotional tribute that notably featured the return of one of Zevon’s vintage guitars to the public eye.