Olivia Rodrigo might have made her career-defining album SOUR after a bout of Joshua Bassett-induced heartbreak, but the 18-year-old singer spun her tears into gold, as showcased during her rendition of “good 4 u” at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. Wearing a purple-and-pink ruffled mini dress and heavy black platform boots, she bounced around the stage Sunday night to her now-classic punk-pop hit, a Gen Z scorched-earth banger for the ages. In her first-ever live VMAs performance, she sounded confident and controlled—as she well should. Get a peek at the show below.
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Only minutes later, she won the VMAs “Song of the Year” for her decidedly more mellow ballad “driver’s license,” which TikTok boosted to infamy in early 2021. Breathless and grinning, she told the audience, “I want to thank all of you guys, the fans. This is so incredible. This has been the most magical year of my life, and it’s all because of you guys, so thank you so much. Thank you to the VMAS and everyone who helped me make SOUR.”
She added, “I want to dedicate this award to all the other girls who write songs on their bedroom floor. There are a lot of people who will try to dim your light, but speaking your mind and sharing your heart are the most beautiful things in the world, and here’s to that.”
After wowing the red carpet in a pink column gown by Atelier Versace, Rodrigo is in for an even more thrilling evening: She is also nominated in the Best Push Performance, Best Pop Video, Best Artist, and Best New Artist categories.
Lauren Puckett-Pope
Associate Editor
Lauren Puckett-Pope is an associate editor at ELLE, where she covers news and culture.
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