OLIVIA Rodrigo brought out a British music icon for her Glastonbury headline performance.
The talented US singer, 22, surprised fans midway through her set by introducing Robert Smith, 66, to the stage.
The wild-haired romantic wordsmith walked out with a shy smile to a relatively muted response, before launching in to his band’s anthem Friday I’m In Love.
A true Glasto legend, Smith’s band are tied with for the most headline appearances with four – their latest coming in 2019.
And the frontman showed he still has what it takes to command the biggest festival of them all, a year on from The Cure’s latest release – the dark, brooding, five-star Songs of a Lost World.
If Rodrigo‘s audience weren’t quite familiar with him at first, it wasn’t long before they were singing along to his genius.
Those at home revelled in the unlikely collab, with one writing on X: “As if brought out Robert Smith ffs. Heaven!!”;
Another said: “Robert Smith still has one of the most magical voices ever, incredible musician.”;
A third wrote: “Robert Smith on with . Now that’s a proper moment.”;
A fourth said: “I didn’t have Robert Smith on my Olivia bingo card!!”;
The duo finished their partnership with another Cure track: Just Like Heaven.
It was an accomplished headlining debut for Rodrigo. Surrounded by quality young musicians who know how to rock, she belted out her catchy hits and commanded the stage like a much more experienced performer.
For her encore, Rodrigo returned to the stage in a pair of sparkling Union Jack hotpants and launched into a raucous Brutal followed by All-American B*tch.
While eyebrows were raised when she was unveiled as the second youngest headliner in Glasto history, behind Billie Eilish, the signs were there that it was an inspired choice.
Her headline performance at BST on Friday night left no doubt that she was ready to perform on the iconic stage.
During her set at London‘s Hyde Park to perform his track The A Team, with the Brit troubadour another of her A-list fans.
But the sell-out show belonged to her and she signed off with her anthems Good 4 U and Got Him Back!
Tonight, as inflatable balls were released into the crowd, Rodrigo truly arrived as a global headline force.
