Olivia Rodrigo Claims Pyramid Stage—and a Scouse Nickname
It’s not every year that someone in their early twenties leaves tens of thousands awestruck at Glastonbury’s biggest stage. But Olivia Rodrigo just did that at 22, sliding into festival history right behind Billie Eilish, who set the previous youth record at 20. Rodrigo’s closing set on Sunday had no shortage of bold pop anthems, stadium-sized feelings, and one seriously legendary cameo.
Before she even stepped onto the Pyramid Stage, Rodrigo sparked a fresh wave of regional pride. Liverpool fans gave her the tag 'Scouse Prinny'—'Scouse' being a cheeky nod to their roots and 'Prinny' short for princess. This mashup isn’t just throwaway banter. For Liverpudlian fans, it’s a sign they see her as musical royalty, someone they’d claim as one of their own, even though she's thousands of miles from Merseyside.
Fans didn’t just cheer—they blew the roof off any crowd noise records from Glastonbury years past. The festival’s notoriously tough-to-impress crowd let loose when Rodrigo rolled out her biggest singles. But the buzz really hit fever pitch when Robert Smith from The Cure strolled out to join her for a surprise number. Smith, the goth icon, and Rodrigo, the Gen Z pop powerhouse? Nobody saw that coming, and everyone was here for it.
Setting New Standards and a Stage for Surprise
Rodrigo’s Pyramid Stage set was packed with what everyone wanted: tight vocals, raw emotional delivery, and a setlist peppered with radio favorites and deep cuts. She didn’t waste a minute on controversy, keeping the focus on her own songs and artistry—something that set her apart from a few other Glastonbury acts whose offstage remarks are now being picked apart by police investigators. Rodrigo left the talking to her lyrics, giving the crowd a sense that they were witnessing a turning point in her career.
For fans, the 'Scouse Prinny' moniker means more than an in-joke. It’s a special kind of acceptance from a city that’s fiercely loyal and never shy with its opinions. Getting Liverpool’s stamp of approval, especially as a US artist, throws Rodrigo into rare company—like when Paul McCartney plays for local fans or when The Beatles get referenced at every corner bar.
With her age, her setlist, and a surprise guest that bridged decades of pop and alt-rock, Rodrigo’s night at Glastonbury shows she’s not just repeating the festival’s history—she’s rewriting it. Her performance put her right up in the festival’s hall of fame, proving that youth and bold talent can combine to shake up even the most storied traditions. For millions watching, both in the crowd and online, Olivia Rodrigo just found a new home in the UK—and with a nickname as unique as her rise.
- Olivia Rodrigo became the youngest solo headliner since Billie Eilish.
- Liverpool fans coined the nickname 'Scouse Prinny' in her honor.
- Her set featured a surprise collaboration with The Cure’s Robert Smith.
- Amid the celebratory mood, festival police handled unrelated incidents elsewhere.