Olivia Rodrigo returned to Glastonbury this weekend with a performance that can only be described as fierce, surprising, and utterly commanding – a set that not only cemented her place as one of pop’s most captivating stars but arguably stole the entire festival.
Three years after her breakthrough appearance at Worthy Farm, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter stepped onto the Pyramid Stage, now as a seasoned chart-topper, armed with two massive albums, countless awards, and a reputation for blending raw vulnerability with youthful defiance. Her first Glastonbury outing in 2022 became instant folklore, thanks to her fearless condemnation of the US Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision and a raucous duet with Lily Allen.
This time, Rodrigo let the music – and one seriously unexpected guest – do the talking.
A Surprise That Left the Crowd Speechless
Midway through her set, Rodrigo teased the audience by introducing a personal hero, “one of the greatest songwriters ever to come out of England”. Fans, used to seeing Ed Sheeran pop up in such moments, likely braced for a familiar acoustic cameo. But Rodrigo had a bigger, bolder surprise up her sleeve.
Out walked Robert Smith of The Cure, greeted by a roar of disbelief from the thousands gathered in front of the Pyramid Stage. The iconic frontman joined Rodrigo for spine-tingling renditions of Friday I’m In Love and Just Like Heaven, seamlessly blending eras and fanbases in what was one of the most talked-about moments of the festival.
It was, as festival-goers would later describe, one of the only true secrets to have survived Glastonbury’s rumour mill – and a masterstroke in expanding Rodrigo’s reach beyond her devoted Gen Z fanbase.
A Set Full of Attitude and Anthemic Heartbreak
From the moment Rodrigo strutted onto the stage in Doc Martens and Union Jack hot pants, it was clear the young star wasn’t here to play it safe. With an infectious grin, she charmed the crowd by praising British pubs and even Colin the Caterpillar cakes – small touches that proved she knows how to win over a festival audience.
✍️ “Glastonbury’s youngest headliner proves she is a rock queen rising, outshining veterans in a triumphant set,” writes @neil_mccormick.
Read our review of Olivia Rodrigo’s #Glastonbury set here ⤵️https://t.co/psORvFdCSI pic.twitter.com/86jMJuWAgp
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 30, 2025
Musically, Rodrigo’s set blended two distinct styles: tender, emotionally charged ballads and punchy, angst-driven pop-punk anthems. While these sounds might seem worlds apart on paper, Rodrigo’s performance proved they could coexist in thrilling harmony.
Backed by a muscular live band that injected extra bite into her songs, she delivered note-perfect renditions of Get Him Back!, All-American Bitch, and Vampire, the latter building from haunting vulnerability to a full-throttle, snarling crescendo that had the crowd roaring along.
Tracks like All-American Bitch showcased Rodrigo’s wit and sharp lyricism, while Vampire oozed theatricality, swelling from delicate piano to an explosion of frustration and heartbreak. The grungier moments allowed her band to flex their muscles, with gnarly guitar solos that wouldn’t have sounded out of place at a rock festival.
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Winning Over Even the Skeptics
Rodrigo’s set wasn’t just for the super-fans pressed against the barrier, screaming every lyric with wide-eyed devotion. Even casual festival-goers or those initially unfamiliar with her music found themselves swept up in the energy and spectacle.
The performance had structure, pacing, and personality – never once dragging, even when Rodrigo slowed things down for her introspective ballads. Her confidence on stage has clearly evolved since her debut, and she now commands the crowd with ease, mixing playful banter with moments of genuine vulnerability.
As fireworks lit up the Somerset sky to close her set, it was clear Rodrigo had achieved something rare: a Glastonbury headline performance that felt like a true moment – unpolished in the right ways, full of heart, and packed with surprises.
A Pop Star, But Not as You Expect
What makes Rodrigo’s success at Glastonbury even more striking is how she continues to defy the polished, predictable image often expected of pop stars with Disney roots. Her songs – whether whispered piano confessions or roaring punk-inspired anthems – cut deep with their honesty and frustration. And unlike many pop performances that rely on flawless choreography and pre-recorded vocals, Rodrigo brought a raw, live energy that felt refreshingly authentic.
The addition of Robert Smith wasn’t just a gimmick; it was a symbol of Rodrigo’s ability to transcend the usual pop boundaries. She may have entered the scene as a teenage heartbreak diarist, but last night, she left Worthy Farm as something far more powerful: an artist capable of uniting generations, blending genres, and commanding one of music’s biggest stages on her own terms.
At just 22, Olivia Rodrigo didn’t just deliver one of Glastonbury’s standout sets – she may well have delivered its defining performance of 2025.
