Olivia Rodrigo reveals struggles with anxiety during the GUTS world tour

Olivia Rodrigo has opened up about the anxiety she experienced while touring, revealing that being away from home for long stretches left her feeling overwhelmed during the early stages of her global run.

The 23-year-old singer reflected on her GUTS world tour, admitting that the transition to life on the road affected her sense of stability and normal routine.

Speaking to Cosmopolitan, Rodrigo said she still considers herself someone who deals with anxiety, adding candidly, “I was really nervous the first 10 shows of the GUTS tour.

It was hard to be away from home and not have any sense of normalcy.”

The singer described the intensity of those early performances, recalling, “I was freaking out; my nervous system was crashing out.”

She added that while she still experiences anxiety, it now manifests differently compared to when she was younger.

Over time, Rodrigo said she developed coping techniques to manage stage nerves, including focusing her attention on one audience member during performances to help ground herself.

“I always pick out a person and just sing to them; everyone else is just on the side,” she explained.

The Good 4 U hitmaker also reflected on the emotional highlights of her 16-month tour, including a major performance in the Philippines, where she performed in front of a 55,000-strong crowd for the first time.

“I had never been to the Philippines in my life, and being able to go there and play in an arena of 55,000 people is so crazy,” she said, adding that seeing fans sing along deeply moved her.

Rodrigo said moments like those reinforced her appreciation for live music and connection with audiences, describing it as one of the biggest lessons from touring.

The singer is now preparing to return to the road in September 2026 with her upcoming The Unraveled Tour, which will support her third studio album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, due for release on June 12.