Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter: From ‘Drivers License’ Drama to Grammy Hugs
Several years ago, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter were rumored to be involved in a love triangle that left them on decidedly bad terms. Many people assumed Rodrigo wrote her breakout song “drivers license” about Carpenter. Speculation only intensified when Carpenter appeared to reply with a song of her own. These days, though, the two pop stars appear to be on much better terms.
Olivia Rodrigo reportedly wrote the song ‘drivers license’ about Sabrina Carpenter
Rodrigo and her High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star, Joshua Bassett, were rumored to be in a relationship. They met on set in 2019 and posted frequent pictures with one another. Fans quickly began to speculate that they were together.
In 2020, however, Bassett was spotted at a Black Lives Matter protest with Carpenter. This sparked speculation of a breakup with Rodrigo, which only intensified when the pair wore coordinated Halloween costumes. Months later, Rodrigo released her song “drivers license.” In it, she appears to reference Carpenter directly.
“And you’re probably with that blonde girl / Who always made me doubt / She’s so much older than me / She’s everything I’m insecure about,” she sang.
Sabrina Carpenter responded to Olivia Rodrigo with songs of her own
Several months later, Carpenter released the song “Skin.” Many people believed this was a response to “drivers license.”
“Maybe you didn’t mean it / Maybe blonde was the only rhyme,” she sang.
Still, Rodrigo dodged questions about the rumored feud.
“I actually don’t know her at all,” she told Radio.com. “I think we’ve met once or twice in passing, but I’ve never had a conversation with her.”
In 2022, Carpenter appeared to sing about the love triangle again in the song “Because I Liked a Boy.” She received online backlash for “Skin,” and worked through it on this song.
They appeared to be on friendly terms at the 2025 Grammys
Four years later, Carpenter and Rodrigo appeared to be on much friendlier terms. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Rodrigo stopped by Carpenter’s table. The pair embraced each other and had a brief conversation.
Olivia Rodrigo said she is happy about Sabrina Carpenter’s success
In a recent interview, Rodrigo put the rumored feud to rest for good.
“I think she’s great,” she told Vogue UK, adding, “I’m so happy for all of her success too. I love the album she’s put out.”
She acknowledged that any comment she made about their relationship is likely to get attention, which makes her slightly uneasy. Still, she confirmed that they’re in a good place now.
“It’s just people just get weird and clickbaity – it’s all love, though,” she said. “I’ve talked to her many times.”
