2024’s collection of female pop artists is nothing short of spectacular. Names like Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams and, of course, Olivia Rodrigo come to mind. Even with the genre overflowing with new talent, there is someone very much looming large: Taylor Swift. Every time a young, arising female popstar hits the Spotify charts, people question who the next Taylor Swift will be. This question is not worth answering, because there is simply no way to replicate her success. The better question is who fits the role of Swift’s “pop daughter.” This is referring to a younger pop artist who is heavily influenced by an older artist’s work, much like a mother raising their daughter. The only answer would be Olivia Rodrigo.
Many would say Swift’s The Eras Tour openers, Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter, are top contenders. Both were invited on stage for the surprise-song section of her Eras Tour show, and Swift also featured on Abrams’ sophomore album, “The Secret of Us,” in June 2024. In comparison, Swift and Rodrigo don’t seem to have a personal relationship. People have caught on to the fact that Rodrigo was a very vocal Swiftie who has toned down her praise in recent years.
Yet, Swift’s personal relationships with these artists have nothing to do with their eligibility as her pop daughter, as this title centers on artistic similarity. Abrams is illegible due to her genre being better described as “bedroom pop,” which focuses on softer vocals and melodies. It doesn’t help that Abrams isn’t on the same level as Swift, Carpenter or Rodrigo internationally. She hasn’t topped the Billboard charts or gotten a major nomination besides Best New Artist.
Carpenter is a recent addition to this conversation, having a breakthrough year with her album “Short N’ Sweet.” Even though Carpenter’s current sound and popularity are reminiscent of Swift’s “1989” dominance, the content and tone of her lyrics are a different beast. Carpenter’s latest albums gained popularity due to their cheeky lyrics and playful tone, as evident in her summer hit, “Espresso.” “Short N’ Sweet” is witty, confident, and filled with innuendos. This difference is crucial to the comparison because, even with her 11 studio albums, Swift’s music is rarely suggestive. With her current era, Carpenter is not revealing her deepest, darkest secrets, but is instead keeping her confessions close to her heart.
This leaves Rodrigo, whose discography and career trajectory fit the bill. They both sold out their first world tours and were nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, with Rodrigo taking home the award. On the Grammy topic, both won most of their nominations early on, with Swift winning four out of her first nine nominations and Rodrigo three out of her first seven nominations. Since their debuts, it seems everybody knew she had star potential. For Rodrigo, she started her career on top, with her first single topping the Billboard chart for eight weeks and being named Time’s Entertainer of the Year in her first year as a singer-songwriter.
Rodrigo’s debut single “drivers license” is what initially drew Swift comparisons, as it is a heart-wrenching ballad about a recent breakup—something Swift has been perfecting since her own debut, “Tim McGraw.” The best skill these artists share is how they can make every song relatable yet still personal. They use specific details that prove authenticity, because why would anyone make up leaving a scarf at someone’s house?
Swift and Rodrigo are not the first, nor the last artists to write break-up ballads, but the way they do so is connected, both lyrically and sonically. Specifically on Rodrigo’s debut album and the “SOUR” album released in 2021, Swift’s influence is front and center. Her second single, “deja vu” drew similarities to Swift’s song “Cruel Summer,” due to both songs having similar bridges. When asked if she took inspiration from the track, Rodrigo said “I love the yell-y vocal in it, the harmonized yells she does…I wanted to do something like that.”
The most concrete tie to Swift in “SOUR” doesn’t come from “deja vu” but instead on “1 steps forward, 3 steps back.” Rodrigo and producer Dan Nigro interpolated chords from “New Years Day,” a song from Swift’s 2017 album, “reputation,” as the foundation for the track.
There are many captivating pop stars out right now, but Rodrigo is the only one with Swift-esque potential: the accolades, Billboard success, lyrics and sound needed to sustain a career of that magnitude.
It’s important to realize the potential that comes with this title. If Rodrigo can resemble Swift’s control of the pop market, how will things fare for the newer pop girls to come?