The Billboard 2022 Women’s Music Event kicked off on Wednesday night (March 2nd) with Woman of the Year Olivia Rodrigo, who took the stage for a brilliant pre-shot performance of her second single, Sour, Boiling Deja Vu.
Playing in an empty SoFi stadium, dressed in pink, Rodrigo sang the hit of 2021 directly into the camera with typically unguarded intimacy and directness. She was supported by a group of four members, all female, each wearing all-white outfits and offering an alternatively sweet and rough performance of the anthem after the breakup.
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Later on the show, Olivia was named Woman of the Year by Cheryl Crowe. “I was shooting billiards with my 11-year-old last night, and he sang ‘Good 4 U’ in full force, and then he sang ‘Driver’s Book,'” she recalled during her performance. I was like, “Okay, little 11-year-old boy.” She went on to praise Rodrigo’s great example to his generation. “When I showed up, women struggled to be the architects of their own careers,” she said. “So when I saw someone like our woman of the year, Olivia Rodrigo, have such incredible success at such an early age, I was amazed.
After thanking Crowe, “I’m such a big fan of you and your songwriting,” she exploded, congratulating the others on the evening, Rodrigo spoke of his love of songwriting and how it “always was everything.” her. “It’s not always easy to be a young woman in the music industry, but I found so much strength in women songwriters who came before me and paved the way and opened doors for so many young women like me.”
She closed by offering a message to ambitious songwriters to watch. “I want to tell all the young girls there who write songs every day, in their diaries, on the floors of their bedrooms – I am constantly excited by your vulnerability and your creativity and courage,” she said. “And I promise everyone here today is working to make this world and this industry a better place for you.”
After debuting in the top 10 a few months earlier, Deja Vu reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2021, becoming her third top 5 on her debut album Sour. Rodrigo was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in February, making her the 15th different artist to receive the honor.