Olivia Rodrigo on the Expectations of Her ‘Good Girl’ Persona

In Olivia Rodrigo's recently released sophomore album Guts, the opening track is “All-American Bitch,” a satire of the expectations and double standards expected of being a woman in American society. The 20-year-old sings towards the end of the track: "I’m grateful all the time, I’m sexy and I’m kind. I’m pretty when I cry." The song's title was inspired by Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem. In a conversation with Phoebe Bridgers for Interview magazine earlier this month, Rodrigo revealed that she was inspired by Didion's experiences in San Francisco in the '60s. "She was talking to some hippie who ran away from home, and he called his mom an all-American bitch. And I was like, 'That's the f---ing coolest phrase I've ever heard,' so I had to write a song about it."

In a new interview with People Wednesday (September 13), Rodrigo further explores these feelings through her music. “I think there are so many expectations placed on women — you’re always supposed to be grateful and calm and gracious and poised,” she tells the publication. “Growing up, I really struggled with the conflict of having all these feelings that I felt like I couldn’t externalize and this expectation that I wanted to be this good girl.” The singer-songwriter says a day after reading the Didion essay, she sat down at the piano and wrote it. "You never know the trajectory a song is going to take.”

However, Rodrigo admitted that writing a follow-up to her hugely successful, Grammy-winning Sour was challenging. There was pressure to top her debut. Despite that, the High School Musical alum came to terms with not trying to write another hit. "I think that I truly can’t write a song and pander," she said. "Good songs don’t come out of me writing to please other people. All my best songs come from me just wanting to express something for myself and wanting to process a feeling just for me.” The "vampire" singer says at the song's inception, "It’s just very insular. I can’t think about the other stuff."

The 2023 MTV VMAs took place at Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center Tuesday (September 12) night. Nicki Minaj returns to "host" and perform, marking the second time the "Barbie World" rapper will take the stage. According to a source at MTV familiar with the awards show, no one can labeled as a "host" because of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. In addition to Minaj's emceeing duties, she'll also perform her newest single, "Last Time I Saw You" for the very first time.

Sean “Diddy” Combs will be honored with the Global Icon Award and perform his greatest hits. The artist will receive the third-ever Global Icon Award, which MTV says "celebrates an artist or band whose unparalleled career and continued influence have achieved a unique level of global success in music and beyond." Shakira will receive the Video Vanguard Award and will also perform at the awards show for the first time since 2006. Performances by Olivia Rodrigo, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Fall Out Boy, Måneskin and K-Pop boy band Stray Kids are among the artists set to take the stage.

Taylor Swift leads the nominations this year with eight nods altogether, followed by six for SZA. For the coveted Video of the Year, Swift's "Anti-Hero" will face off against SZA’s “Kill Bill,” Doja Cat’s “Attention,” Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” and Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy.”

The 39th annual awards show begins at 8 p.m. ET, broadcast simultaneously on VH1, MTV2, Comedy Central, CMT, BET, BET Her, Paramount Network, and Nickelodeon. Those who use streams can tune in live on DirecTV and Paramount+ apps. The first MTV Video Music Awards show took place on September 14, 1984
and was hosted by Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Take a look below at the hottest looks of the VMA red carpet.