Olivia Rodrigo Celebrates 5 Years of “Drivers License” with David Byrne’s Emotional Reimagining

The pop star marks the milestone with a genre-bending cover by the Talking Heads legend and reflects on the song that changed her life forever

Five years after “Drivers License” first stopped listeners in their tracks, Olivia Rodrigo is honoring the song that launched her into global stardom with a deeply personal and unexpected tribute. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the chart-topping hit, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter has shared a newly reimagined cover of the song by David Byrne — a moment she says moved her to tears.

Released on Thursday, January 8, Byrne’s version of “Drivers License” offers a striking reinterpretation of the heartbreak anthem, reshaped through the lens of a 73-year-old artist. With altered production and lyrics subtly reframed to reflect his own perspective, Byrne brings a new emotional dimension to the song. In one of the most talked-about lyric changes, he sings: “He’s so much younger than me / Everything I’m insecure about,” flipping the original narrative in a way that feels both intimate and unexpected.

Rodrigo revealed that Byrne’s cover marks the beginning of a special anniversary project. “SOUR is turning 5 years old this year,” she wrote on Instagram, announcing “an upcoming series of reimagined SOUR covers from some of my favorite artists ever.” She added that launching the series with Byrne felt particularly meaningful, calling him “one of my all-time heroes.”

“David is nothing short of a legend,” Rodrigo shared. “I actually cried when I heard his version of this song.”

The cover is now available to stream, and fans can also purchase a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl featuring Byrne’s rendition alongside a live performance of “Burning Down the House,” which Rodrigo and Byrne performed together at the 2025 Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City. In addition, Rodrigo released a Target-exclusive tiny vinyl pressing of the original “Drivers License” paired with her own live Governors Ball performance.

Originally released in January 2021 as the lead single from Rodrigo’s debut album Sour, “Drivers License” became an instant cultural phenomenon. Fueled by speculation surrounding its lyrics and a widely discussed teenage love triangle, the song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held the top spot for eight consecutive weeks. It went on to earn Rodrigo a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance, along with MTV Video Music Awards for Song of the Year and Push Performance of the Year.

Reflecting on the milestone, Rodrigo shared a second Instagram post featuring throwback photos from the song’s release era. “Looking back at these pics I feel like I look like a baby but it also feels like just yesterday,” she wrote. “This song has totally changed my life in ways I still can’t totally wrap my head around.”

She closed the message with gratitude and a promise to fans: “I’m forever grateful for this magical chapter and I can’t wait to scream ‘red lights, stop signs’ with you guys at every concert I play for the rest of my life. Happy birthday, DL.”

Five years on, “Drivers License” continues to evolve — now not just as a pop milestone, but as a song capable of crossing generations, perspectives, and artistic worlds.