Rodrigo's All-Women Festival Finale Features Legendary Collaborations
Olivia Rodrigo closed her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine, California, with a headlining set that included surprise duets with Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, and Stevie Nicks. The trio joined Rodrigo onstage for renditions of McLachlan's 'Building a Mystery' and 'Angel,' dedicated to the late Dolly Parton, as well as Morissette's 'Ironic.' The festival, inspired by Lilith Fair, raised $10 million for women's and girls' charities.
The Daisy Chain Fields festival, held at Great Park in Irvine, marked Rodrigo's first venture into curating a large-scale event. Its $10 million donation to women's and girls' nonprofits echoed the philanthropic model of Lilith Fair, which McLachlan founded in the late Nineties. The festival lineup also saw a last-minute change when Karen O withdrew, prompting Morissette to step in as a replacement performer.
Rodrigo's connection to Morissette dates back to 2021, when the pair appeared together on Rolling Stone's Musicians on Musicians cover. During that interview, Rodrigo recalled first hearing Jagged Little Pill at age 13 and being inspired to pursue songwriting. The two previously shared a stage in May 2022 during Rodrigo's Sour tour, performing "You Outta Know" at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
This event could signal a shift in how younger artists approach festival curation, potentially inspiring more female-led lineups in an industry often dominated by male headliners. The cross-generational collaborations may also introduce classic catalogues to new audiences, while the substantial charity donation could encourage other performers to pair large-scale events with philanthropic missions. The festival's success may influence booking strategies and industry conversations about representation.