David Byrne Releases Cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License”

David Byrne is on a tear. After the release of his ninth solo studio album Who Is The Sky?, which arrived to widespread acclaim in September, the Talking Heads frontman crossed the country with his dazzling high-concept live show, and along the way shared the Brian Eno co-written single “T-Shirt.” Now, just before kicking off a three-month tour of Europe and Oceania, he’s released a cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License.” Good for him.

Byrne’s take on Rodrigo’s 2021 breakthrough single is dressed in the same brand of quirk-baroque art-pop that he perfected on his latest album and anchored in a strikingly impassioned vocal performance. It was released to formally mark five years since the smash hit’s release, and will be issued on a limited-edition 7” vinyl pressing on April 3, backed by the artists’ collaborative take on “Burning Down the House” from Byrne’s surprise sit-in during Rodrigo’s headline set at 2025’s Governors Ball.

Today’s cover is the first in a series building to the anniversary of Rodrigo’s debut album Sour in June. Maybe we’ll get a tribute from Robert Smith next. “We’re starting off insanely strong with an incredible reworking of ‘drivers license’ from one of my all-time heroes, David Byrne,” Rodrigo wrote in a social post. “David is nothing short of a legend and I actually cried when I heard his version of this song.”

Listen to Byrne’s version of “Driver’s License” below, and find tickets for his ongoing Who is the Sky? Tour at whoisthesky.davidbyrne.com.