CMAT stunned as Olivia Rodrigo covers her song during BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance

Rodrigo described CMAT as 'one of the best songwriters out there' and that 'nobody writes songs like her right now'

Irish singer-songwriter CMAT has shared her delight after Olivia Rodrigo performed a cover of her song When A Good Man Cries during a recent appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge.

Rodrigo chose the track from CMAT’s acclaimed album Euro-Country as her Live Lounge cover, telling listeners that she had discovered the Irish artist only a few months ago. Praising CMAT’s songwriting, Rodrigo described her as “one of the best songwriters out there” and said she believed “nobody writes songs like her right now”.

The performance quickly caught CMAT’s attention. Reacting on social media after hearing the cover, the singer posted a video of herself listening to Rodrigo’s rendition and jokingly declared: “She sang it better than me.” She later added that she had woken up shortly before the performance aired and was shocked to hear Rodrigo singing lyrics that reference her hometown of Dunboyne.

 

 

 

 

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CMAT’s response highlighted a specific lyric mentioning “Dunboyne”, a town in County Meath closely associated with the singer. After hearing Rodrigo include the reference, CMAT celebrated the moment online and humorously invited the pop star out for a drink.

The cover arrives during a significant year for CMAT, whose third album Euro-Country has continued to earn critical acclaim and industry recognition. The singer has enjoyed a growing international profile, with Rodrigo’s endorsement likely to introduce her music to an even wider audience.

For Rodrigo, the performance continues a tradition of using the Live Lounge platform to spotlight artists she admires. Her choice of “When A Good Man Cries” has already generated excitement among fans of both musicians, with many celebrating the crossover between two of contemporary pop’s most distinctive voices.