Five years after its release, Olivia Rodrigo’s breakout single ‘drivers license' continues to define a generation. Originally released on January 8, 2021, the song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the then 17-year-old Rodrigo the youngest artist in history to enter the chart at the top spot—a record she still holds today.
To mark the fifth anniversary of this career-defining moment, the multi-Platinum, three-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist is releasing several special editions of ‘drivers license' via Geffen Records. These releases celebrate not only the song’s enduring impact but also its place at the heart of Rodrigo’s debut album, SOUR, which arrived on May 21, 2021.
Kicking off the anniversary celebrations is a new interpretation of ‘drivers license' by David Byrne. The iconic musician, performer, writer and multidisciplinary artist—best known as the co-founder of Talking Heads—offers a distinctive take on the song, available now across all digital streaming platforms alongside Rodrigo’s original version. This release marks the first in a broader series of covers connected to the fifth anniversary of SOUR.
Collectors will also be able to pick up a limited-edition 7” vinyl pressed on translucent ruby vinyl. Side A features Byrne’s version of ‘drivers license,' while Side B captures a standout moment from Rodrigo’s Governors Ball 2025 performance, when Byrne joined her onstage for a rendition of Talking Heads’ classic ‘burning down the house.'
In addition, a Target Exclusive Tiny Vinyl will be released, pressed on fruit punch-colored vinyl. This edition includes the original album version of ‘drivers license' on Side A, with Side B featuring Rodrigo’s live performance of the song from Governors Ball.
Since its release, ‘drivers license' has amassed more than 4.7 billion combined global streams and has been certified six-times Platinum by the RIAA. The track spent its first eight consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record at the time for the longest-running No. 1 by a solo artist. The New York Times praised the song for how it “successfully balances dark yet crisp melodrama with bold tunefulness,” and its legacy is reflected in its continued presence across major platforms and publications.
Today, ‘drivers license' ranks among the top 100 most-streamed songs of all time on Apple Music, is one of the top 10 most-streamed solo female songs in Spotify history, and sits within the top 20 of Rolling Stone’s Best Female Songs of the Century—cementing its status as one of the most influential pop releases of the modern era.
