Olivia Rodrigo has opened up about the emotional challenges of life on tour, admitting she struggled with anxiety and homesickness during her massive GUTS world tour.
Speaking in a new interview with Cosmopolitan, the singer said long stretches away from home affected her sense of routine and emotional stability while touring.
“I’m serving anxious forever.”
“I was really nervous the first 10 shows of the GUTS tour.”
“It was hard to be away from home and not have any sense of normalcy.”
The singer launched the global tour in 2024 in support of her second album, GUTS.
Olivia Rodrigo says her “nervous system was crashing out”
Reflecting on the early stages of the tour, Rodrigo said the pressure and constant travel became overwhelming at times.
“I was freaking out; my nervous system was crashing out.”
“I still get anxious. It’s just different than when I was younger.”
The singer also revealed that she has developed a simple technique to help manage nerves while performing live in front of huge audiences.
“I always pick out a person and just sing to them; everyone else is just on the side.”
Philippines concert became one of the biggest moments of the tour
Elsewhere in the interview, Rodrigo reflected on the impact of the 16-month world tour and singled out her concert in the Philippines as one of the most emotional experiences of her career.
The Filipino-American artist performed in front of approximately 55,000 fans during the show.
“This sounds so cheesy, but the power of music.”
“I had never been to the Philippines in my life, and being able to go there and play in an arena of 55,000 people is so crazy.”
Rodrigo also spoke about watching young fans connect with songs such as Traitor.
“I loved watching the young girls in the crowd sing songs like Traitor.”
Olivia Rodrigo prepares for new album and 2026 tour
Rodrigo is set to return to the road in September for The Unraveled Tour, which will support her upcoming third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.
The album is scheduled for release on 12 June 2026.
The singer first broke through globally with songs including Drivers License and has since become one of the defining pop artists of her generation, known for combining emotionally direct songwriting with arena-scale success.
Artists continue speaking openly about touring and mental health
Rodrigo joins a growing number of musicians discussing the emotional and psychological impact of major touring schedules.
In recent years, several artists have spoken publicly about anxiety, burnout and the pressures of maintaining normal routines while spending months on the road.
Rodrigo’s comments also reflect wider conversations within the music industry around artist wellbeing, especially among younger performers navigating global fame at an early stage in their careers.
