Olivia Rodrigo Blocked From A New No. 1 Hit By The World’s Biggest Star

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentOlivia Rodrigo Blocked From A New No. 1 Hit By The World’s Biggest StarByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorJun 17, 2026, 11:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryOlivia Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead” climbs to a new high in the U.K. shortly before her new album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love reaches the charts. The single jumps to No. 2 on the Official Physical Singles ranking, missing the top spot only because Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” debuts at No. 1. “Drop Dead” becomes Rodrigo’s latest near-champion on the ranking, where all nine of her appearances have reached the top 10 and three have gone all the way to No. 1.Show More Taylor Swift blocks Olivia Rodrigo's "Drop Dead" from reaching No. 1 on one chart in the U.K. as "I Knew It, I Knew You" launches in the top spot. Olivia Rodrigo at the 2025 Governors Ball Music Festival held at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 07, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images)Billboard via Getty ImagesLess than a week ago, Olivia Rodrigo released her highly-anticipated third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. The pop and rock singer-songwriter kicked off this latest era of her career with the single "Drop Dead," which arrived in mid-April. That tune was unsurprisingly a huge hit once it launched on charts all around the world, becoming a streaming sensation and a bestseller. This week, shortly before You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love appears on rosters in the United Kingdom – perhaps at No. 1 on multiple lists – "Drop Dead" climbs to a new high and nearly earns the superstar another ruler, but a slightly more popular artist blocks her...