Olivia Rodrigo is making light of a long-known hearing issue, turning a personal challenge into a joke during a recent radio appearance. On June 4, 2026, the Grammy-winning singer appeared on KISS FM UK and said she is “60% deaf in my left ear,” explaining that she would not be able to hear a secret whispered on that side. She added that anyone wanting to tell her something private should use her right ear instead.
Rodrigo’s comment was made in reference to her song “what’s wrong with me” from her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. While the remark surprised some fans, the singer has spoken publicly before about her partial deafness, which she says has been part of her life since childhood. In a 2023 interview, Rodrigo said she did not realize anything was different until hearing tests in kindergarten showed she was hard of hearing. She has also joked about her condition with friends, including photographer Petra Collins, noting that they both use their own physical challenges as part of their creative identities.
The article also reflects on Rodrigo’s rise to fame and how she has handled sudden attention since breaking out with “Drivers License” in 2021. She has previously said that fame can be difficult for mental health, but that she is grateful for the people around her who help her stay grounded and separate from online noise and tabloid attention. Rodrigo said that recognition changes some parts of life but does not change who she is, adding that her basic joys and struggles remain the same even as her profile grows.
Alongside the discussion of her hearing and career, the piece includes a retrospective look at Rodrigo’s style through the years, highlighting many of her major public appearances, performances, and red carpet looks. These range from early events in 2017 and 2018 to high-profile appearances at the Met Gala, the American Music Awards, the BRIT Awards, the White House, and recent shows tied to her Guts tour and her latest album era. The timeline underscores Rodrigo’s evolution from a young Disney-era star into one of pop music’s most recognizable figures.
The overall tone of the article is light and celebratory, presenting Rodrigo as someone who is comfortable being candid about her imperfections while maintaining the humor and confidence that have become part of her public image.
