Olivia Rodrigo contributed to Jimmy Kimmel’s quest to earn some serious “cool dad” points with his children. The “Drivers License” artist joined Kimmel, his wife Molly McNearney, and their two youngsters, Jane, 9, and William John “Billy,” 6, during their morning commute to school, treating them to an impromptu jam session that was captured for a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
In the recently released video, Kimmel and his spouse can be seen in the front seats, while Jane and Billy, seated in the back, express their school-related disinterest and boredom.
As their car turned, Kimmel noticed a hitchhiker in the distance and casually inquired, “Shall we give her a lift?” Rodrigo, standing by the roadside in a lilac sweater and black shorts, with her thumb extended, became the unexpected passenger.
Jane, her eyes widening in astonishment, couldn’t contain her excitement. She exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, Billy, it’s Olivia Rodrigo!” Her hands flew to her face in disbelief.
“Hey! Would you mind if I catch a ride?” Rodrigo asked with a warm smile as she climbed into the center back seat.
Although both kids seemed taken aback, Rodrigo quickly put them at ease by asking Jane about her favorite among her songs.
“Um, I really like ‘Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,'” Jane shared.
“That’s one of my favorites too, that’s so sweet, thank you for saying that,” Rodrigo responded. When prompted by his mom, Billy chimed in with his top pick: “The ‘Get Him Back’ song.”
The trio in the back seat then enthusiastically sang along to the songs playing on the car stereo, starting with Jane’s choice and then Billy’s. When they reached the school, Rodrigo shared warm hugs with the siblings. “Thank you, guys, I feel so loved!”
With her mom’s help in getting her backpack ready, Jane quietly mouthed “Oh my God” one more time as she walked away from the car.
“Hey, I want to express my gratitude for joining us early and giving my kids such an exciting experience,” Kimmel remarked later during Rodrigo’s guest appearance on the show. He shared with the audience that his children start their day with her music every morning during their car ride to school.
“It was an absolute blast. I hope they had a great time,” Rodrigo replied, and Kimmel extended his appreciation once more. “Oh, it was a joy.”
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For Olivia Rodrigo, observing people connect with her music remains a novel experience, particularly since she unveiled her debut album, “Sour,” during the pandemic.
“I never had the chance to partake in the exciting events that typically accompany an album release,” said the three-time Grammy Award winner during an interview with PEOPLE last month, preceding a listening event for her second album, “Guts.” “I never had the opportunity to witness the initial reactions as people listened to the songs. It’s truly enjoyable.”
She expressed her gratitude towards her fans, saying, “I owe so much to my fans.” Rodrigo went on to explain how, while creating the record, everyone involved had their favorite songs, including herself, her producer, and the record label. However, the real test of which songs resonate most with people only happens after the album is out. She eagerly awaits discovering which tracks become fan favorites.