Olivia Rodrigo shares surprising health revelation during radio interview
The Grammy winner details a hearing condition that was discovered during school testing
Olivia Rodrigo has shared a surprising personal revelation, revealing that she is partially deaf in her left ear and has lived with the condition since childhood.
The 23-year-old singer made the candid admission during an appearance on KISS FM, where she was asked what she considered to be "wrong" with herself in reference to a track from her latest album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.
Responding with humour, Rodrigo said there were "quite a lot" of things she could mention before revealing her hearing impairment.
“I'm actually like, 60% deaf in my left ear,” she said. “So, if you were to sit on this side of me and try to tell me a secret, I couldn't make out what you were saying. So, if you tell me a secret, go right ear.”
The Drivers License hitmaker previously spoke about the condition in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that it was first discovered when she was a child.
According to Rodrigo, hearing tests conducted at school revealed she had difficulty hearing from one ear, something she had not previously realised.
Despite the challenge, the Grammy-winning artist has maintained a light-hearted perspective on the situation. She recently joked that her career path mirrors that of one of her close friends, photographer Petra Collins.
“One of my friends is this great photographer, Petra Collins, and she has really bad vision,” Rodrigo said. “We always joke that I make music because I have bad hearing, and she takes photos because she has bad vision.”
Elsewhere, the singer reflected on her affection for the United Kingdom, revealing that she feels surprisingly "normal" whenever she spends time in London.
Rodrigo said she enjoys the city's social culture and spontaneity, noting that it offers a different lifestyle compared to Southern California, where she was born and raised.
“I feel so normal here, very adult. I can walk to the pub and meet friends,” she said. “It's a city where spontaneity is really encouraged.”
The singer also joked about adapting to Britain's famously unpredictable weather, saying rainy days are simply part of a proper English summer.
In addition to discussing her personal life, Rodrigo reflected on being outspoken about social and political issues. While she remains passionate about causes she believes in, she said she has become more thoughtful about when and how she speaks publicly.
“I definitely try to be careful with my words,” she said, adding that many of the women she admired growing up inspired her through their willingness to speak out.