Olivia Rodrigo is still processing the overwhelming success of her first-ever Daisy Chain Fields Festival. The 23-year-old singer took to Instagram on Sunday, August 30, just one day after the event, to share her feelings with fans and attendees. She admitted she was struggling to find the right words to describe how grateful and emotional she felt after seeing thousands of people come together for a cause that means so much to her.
The pop star organized and headlined the inaugural all-women music festival at Great Park in Irvine, California, on Saturday, August 29. Around 45,000 people reportedly attended the event. The festival raised an impressive $20 million for women’s healthcare, well-being, and reproductive rights. Philanthropist Melinda French Gates matched a significant portion of the donations.
Olivia Rodrigo Shares Her Emotional Instagram Message
In her Instagram post, Rodrigo wrote about what the festival meant to her. She described seeing Daisy Chain Fields come to life as the greatest joy of her career.
“seeing daisy chain come to fruition yesterday was the greatest joy of my career. riot grrrl mosh pits. friendship bracelets being made on the grass. young girls on their dads shoulders. I am still in a bit of disbelief that it happened and I still feel incapable of properly expressing the gratitude that I feel for every person who believed in this vision and fought so hard to make it a reality.”
The “Vampire” singer shared that after the festival ended and everyone had gone home, she and her friends ran around the grounds trying to process everything they had witnessed. They ended their night at Yoko Ono’s “Wish Tree” installation at the festival entrance. Festivalgoers wrote down their hopes on tags and tied them to the tree branches.
Rodrigo said reading the wishes made her emotional and showed her exactly why Daisy Chain meant so much to her.
“it made me so emotional and I realized that was exactly why daisy chain meant so much to me. the artwork reminded me of how we are all much more alike than we are different. and how deep down, we all just want to help each other and make the world a better place. yesterday, daisy chain felt like just that. a collective hope that things can get better.”
She noted that some wishes were silly, like hoping for longer hair or dogs that could live forever. But most people hoped for peace, happiness for their loved ones, and the chance to make a difference.
“thank you to everyone who came yesterday who showed me that joy is a part of the solution. until next yearrrrr.”
Star-Studded Lineup and Special Guest Performances
The Daisy Chain Fields Festival featured an all-female lineup. The bill included Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, Bikini Kill, The Breeders, Santigold, Rachel Chinouriri, Die Spitz, Devon Again, Quiet Light, and Eli.
Rodrigo also brought out several surprise special guests during her headlining set. She was joined by Sarah McLachlan, who founded the influential 1990s all-women festival Lilith Fair. McLachlan’s festival inspired Rodrigo to create Daisy Chain Fields. Together, they performed “Building a Mystery” and “Angel”. They dedicated “Angel” to the late Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25 at age 80.
Alanis Morissette stepped in for the previously announced guest Karen O, who could not attend due to a personal matter. Rodrigo and Morissette performed “Ironic” together.
Stevie Nicks closed out the show with Rodrigo, performing Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Landslide”. Nicks spoke highly of the young star, telling the crowd:
“She reminds me of me, when I was her age a hundred years ago. And I’m somewhat awestruck that she could do all this. Because it’s so hard, you have no idea, putting this together with all of these people. And she’s done it, with this grace.”
Rodrigo confirmed during her set that the Daisy Chain Fields Festival will return next year.
Festival Raises $20 Million for Women’s Charities
The one-day festival raised $20 million for organizations supporting women and girls. The funds support reproductive rights and women’s healthcare. Rodrigo announced the festival in June 2026, and tickets sold out in just 30 minutes.
The festival donated 100 percent of its net proceeds to 10 nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls. Beneficiaries included Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Festival Attendees Faced Heat-Related Challenges
Some festivalgoers faced difficult conditions due to extreme heat. Temperatures reached 100 degrees with high humidity at Great Park. Several fans passed out during the event. Rodrigo addressed the situation in her Instagram post, expressing gratitude to everyone who attended despite the challenging weather.
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The festival featured various art installations and interactive experiences beyond the music. Daisy Lane, the main pathway through the grounds, displayed quotes and achievements from women pioneers. Nine art installations by women artists, including works by Yoko Ono and Jenny Holzer, were placed throughout the park.
Rodrigo’s setlist included fan favorites like “bad idea right?”, “good 4 u,” “drivers license,” “all-american bitch,” and “deja vu”. She also performed songs from her third album “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love”. The live debut of her new track “serena joy” was another highlight of her 17-song performance.
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