Olivia Rodrigo Opens Up About Partial Deafness And New Album'S Emotional Depth

Olivia Rodrigo's Candid Confession

Most fans don't know this about Olivia Rodrigo – the pop sensation is 60 percent deaf in her left ear. During a recent heart-to-heart on KISS FM UK, the 23-year-old opened up about her condition, which she's dealt with since childhood and has since embraced with humor. While chatting about her latest single, she playfully shared, “There's quite a lot that's wrong with me. I'm actually like, 60 percent deaf in my left ear. So, if you were to sit on this side of me and try to tell me a secret, I couldn't make out what you were saying. So, if you tell me a secret, go right ear.”

“I never knew until kindergarten or so when they're doing the tests on all the kids, and they were like, 'Oh, you're a little hard of hearing.' It's interesting.” – Olivia Rodrigo

Beyond the viral moment, Olivia's prepping to share her new musical creations with the world, touring across North America and Europe. Though the news might surprise some, Rodrigo has long adapted to her reality, once telling The Hollywood Reporter about how she discovered this during routine health checks at school.

Balancing Health and Stardom

The "Drivers License" singer has been navigating the fast lane of fame since her explosive debut in 2021. Despite the challenges, Olivia is all about maintaining her mental wellness, leaning on a trusted circle to stay grounded. She previously confided to Vogue Singapore, “I'm taking it one step at a time. It can be really tough on your mental health, though. I'm grateful for the people who like me for me, and keep me separated from all the noise and tabloids or what people are saying about me on social media.”

On a lighter note, Olivia shares a running joke with friend and photographer Petra Collins. "She has really bad vision, so we always joke that I make music because I have bad hearing, and she takes photos because she has bad vision," Olivia laughs, showing her knack for seeing the bright side.

A Peek Inside 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love'

As her third studio album, 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,' takes over playlists everywhere, Olivia reflects on its inspiration. With her signature blend of joy and melancholy, the album delves into the complex emotions of love. Speaking to Hits Radio, she noted, "I knew that I set out making this record wanting it to be about romantic love in more of a positive sense. But I wanted to challenge myself to write a love song and make something that kind of touched on some of the joyous parts of romantic love."

Olivia continues to explore the emotional spectrum, adding layers of sadness and fear that ground her work in reality. "It's just maybe a little more honest. I think being in a relationship and being like, everything's so awesome, this guy's so great but I think real life is always a little more complicated than nuanced," she muses, speaking to the dual nature of love and her personal growth as an artist.