Olivia Rodrigo Opens Up About ‘Incredible’ Oscar Talk and Champagne-Fueled 21st Birthday Festivities

While she may currently elude capture, the Oscars could potentially capture her spotlight. As the awards season gains momentum, Olivia Rodrigo is aiming for recognition at the Academy Awards. During the Academy's 14th annual Governors Awards on Tuesday, the Grammy-winning artist discussed the Oscar prospects of her song " Can't Catch Me Now " from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, as well as her intentions for her approaching 21st birthday.

“It’s so incredible,” Rodrigo expressed her excitement to Access Hollywood about her Hunger Games prequel song being included in the Academy's shortlist for the best original song. She shared, “There’s just so many people on that list who I’m inspired by, so many songs that I think are incredible, so it’s an honor.”

Rodrigo, in collaboration with his frequent partner Dan Nigro, both penned and delivered the haunting Americana-influenced song "Can't Catch Me Now" for the highly successful Hunger Games prequel, featuring stellar performances by Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, Hunter Schafer, and Tom Blyth. This track claimed the 56th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's excellence was further acknowledged at the 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards, where "Can't Catch Me Now" secured the Best Original Song accolade in the Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or Horror Film category.

Apart from "Can't Catch Me Now," the Academy's shortlist features other standout songs. Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" (from Barbie) is particularly notable, having recently won the equivalent Golden Globe Award. Additionally, noteworthy songs include Fantasia's "Superpower (I)" (from The Color Purple), The Osage Tribe's "Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)" (from Killers of the Flower Moon), and Jon Batiste's "It Never Went Away" (from American Symphony).

Despite facing tough competition, Rodrigo did not write her Hunger Games track to participate in the Oscar race. “I think that if I was writing a song and thought about how other people were gonna hear it, I just would be so overcome by anxiety that I couldn’t write at all,” she told Access Hollywood. “So I try to kind of block that all out and just write for me.”

On the red carpet later, the singer of "Traitor" shared her birthday celebration plans with Entertainment Tonight. “It is a big birthday,” she said. “I think I’m gonna have a party with my friends and pop some champagne, you know? It’s the 21st!” The multihyphenate turns 21 next month (Feb. 20), but she says Vegas isn’t quite in her line of sight yet. “I’ll save that. I’ll save that for later,” she said.

Just ahead of her birthday, Rodrigo is set to partake in the 66th annual Grammy Awards, where she has garnered six nominations. These include categories such as album of the year for "Guts," as well as record and song of the year for "Vampire." The former High School Musical: The Musical: The Series cast member has already secured three Golden Gramophones, winning Best New Artist, best pop vocal album for "Sour," and best pop solo performance for "Drivers License" at the 2022 ceremony.


(With AI Inputs)


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