David Byrne Releases Drivers License Cover for Fifth Anniversary

On January 8, 2026, David Byrne released a reimagined cover of Olivia Rodrigo's breakout single "drivers license," marking the fifth anniversary of the song's original debut and kicking off a series of tribute covers for her 2021 album SOUR.

The track, first released on the same date in 2021, propelled the then-17-year-old Rodrigo to instant fame when it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the youngest artist to achieve that milestone. The song spent eight weeks at the top and has since amassed 4.7 billion global streams across platforms, earning six-times platinum certification from the RIAA. SOUR, which followed in May 2021, became a massive success, holding the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for five weeks and producing four tracks that each surpassed two billion streams on Spotify, a record for any album.

Byrne's version transforms the emotional piano ballad into a quirky, alternative interpretation while preserving its themes of heartbreak and longing. The Talking Heads frontman recorded it during his recent tour stops in Atlanta and Miami, accompanied by his band of musicians, singers, and dancers. In a statement shared alongside the release, Byrne...