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

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 Images

Less 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 from one more champion.

Olivia Rodrigo Nearly Hits No. 1 With "Drop Dead"

"Drop Dead" leaps up the Official Physical Singles chart, the U.K.'s rundown of the top-selling tunes available on CD, cassette or vinyl. Rodrigo's song sat at No. 23 last frame, and now it settles into second place.

Of the eight weeks "Drop Dead" has spent on the Official Physical Singles ranking, half of them have been inside the top 10. Before this period, No. 4, where the song launched in late April, stood as its previously-established high point.

Taylor Swift Blocks Olivia Rodrigo

Rodrigo stops just short of scoring a new No. 1 as Taylor Swift's Toy Story 5 cut "I Knew It, I Knew You" conquers the Official Physical Singles chart. The track hits the highest rung on four of the five U.K. lists it reaches this time around, and Swift earns her seventh leader on the physical tally.

Here are all of Taylor Swift's No. 1s on the Official Physical Singles chart.

• "Elizabeth Taylor"
• "Fortnight" with Post Malone
• "I Knew It, I Knew You"
• "Opalite"
• "Teardrops on My Guitar"
• "The Fate of Ophelia"
• "The Lakes"

Olivia Rodrigo Has Nine Physical Chart No. 1s

Rodrigo has sent nine tunes to the Official Physical Singles chart since first landing on the list in June 2021 with her breakout hit "Drivers License." All of those cuts have cracked the top 10, and three have made it all the way to the summit.

Rodrigo first reached the top spot in 2023 with "Vampire," the lead single from her sophomore set Guts. A year later, "Stick Season," her cover of Noah Kahan's smash of the same name, also spent a frame at No. 1.

Earlier this month, Rodrigo collected a third dominating win with "The Cure." That second promotional cut from You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love has only spent three weeks on the roster, and this time around, it climbs from No. 20 to No. 15.

Olivia Rodrigo Has Seen Three Songs Stall at No. 2

Coincidentally, Rodrigo has seen just as many tracks peak at No. 2 on the Official Physical Singles chart as have ruled the ranking. Guts: The Secret Tracks – which is actually a short collection, but based on its runtime, the Official Charts Company classified it as a single – stalled at No. 2. "Buddy Holly," a cover of Weezer's song of the same name which also credits the alternative band, likewise hit No. 2 earlier this year, shortly before the Grammy winner began rolling out her latest full-length.

"Drop Dead" Rises on the U.K. Sales Chart

"Drop Dead" currently appears on five U.K. charts. As it drops on the Official Singles, Official Streaming and Official Singles Downloads rosters, the tune improves when it comes to purchases. As it nearly leads the Official Physical Singles rundown, "Drop Dead" leaps from No. 41 to No. 4 – two spaces beneath its all-time high on the Official Singles Sales chart.

Olivia Rodrigo Claims Three Hits on the Physical Songs List

Rodrigo only occupies a trio of spaces on one tally in the U.K., and it is the Official Physical Singles chart. As "Drop Dead" misses out on No. 1 by one rung and "The Cure" improves its standing to No. 15, "Vampire" flies from No. 39 to No. 23.