Rodrigo secretly helped student's tuition

Pop star Olivia Rodrigo quietly contributed $5,000 to help a University of Alabama student cover her final semester's tuition, a gesture of kindness that remained private for more than a year before being publicly revealed. The student, Jamie Causey, shared the story in a TikTok video posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, detailing how the Grammy-winning artist reached out to her directly in early 2025.

Causey, a first-generation college student from Alexander City, Alabama, had posted a video discussing her financial struggle to pay for her last term of school. She emphasized she was not asking for money or pity, but simply being honest about her situation. Rodrigo, after seeing the video, sent Causey a direct message on TikTok. Screenshots shared by Causey show Rodrigo writing, "Hi girl! I know you dont know me, but I love your videos so much, you seem like the kindest coolest gal, and you are such a source of positivity and light in my life!" The message continued, "I watched ur last vid about tuition, and Id love to help out if you were open at all to that? So cool that you are so close to graduating! Do you have a Venmo I could send to?"

Causey was stunned by the offer from...