Olivia Rodrigo is opening up about one of the most meaningful moments of her career — receiving Sarah McLachlan’s blessing for Daisy Chain Fields, the women-focused music festival she curated and headlined. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter called the moment “over the moon,” explaining why the veteran artist’s support carried so much weight.
For Rodrigo, McLachlan isn’t just another legendary performer. She’s the architect of Lilith Fair, the groundbreaking 1990s festival that created a major platform for women artists. When Rodrigo set out to create Daisy Chain Fields, she knew she needed to hear from someone who had walked that path before.
Rodrigo revealed that she was “over the moon” when McLachlan agreed to participate in Daisy Chain Fields, describing the experience as surreal . The “Vampire” singer explained that reaching out to McLachlan felt like connecting with a piece of music history, and receiving her blessing was deeply validating.
“It meant the world to me,” Rodrigo said of McLachlan’s involvement. The younger artist was particularly moved because she had grown up admiring McLachlan’s music and her pioneering role in creating Lilith Fair, the all-female touring festival that ran from 1997 to 1999 and became one of the most successful music events of its era.
Rodrigo’s comments reflect a broader sentiment in the music industry: that artists who paved the way for women in music deserve recognition and appreciation from the generation that followed.
Daisy Chain Fields is a music festival curated and headlined by Olivia Rodrigo, designed to celebrate and showcase women artists across multiple genres. The event took place at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, on September 5, 2026 .
The festival’s lineup was carefully curated to represent multiple generations of women in music. In addition to Rodrigo and Sarah McLachlan, performers included Chappell Roan, Doechii, Bikini Kill, Garbage, and Mitski . The event also featured surprise guests and collaborations, including a performance by McLachlan and Rodrigo together.
The festival partnered with the Women’s Center for Creative Work (WCCW), the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Downtown Women’s Center, with a portion of proceeds going to these organizations .
Sarah McLachlan’s involvement in Daisy Chain Fields carries historical weight because of her role in creating Lilith Fair. The festival, which McLachlan co-founded in the late 1990s, was a response to radio programmers who refused to play two female artists in a row . Lilith Fair became a cultural phenomenon, featuring artists such as Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and the Indigo Girls, and helped prove that women-led music events could be commercially successful.
For Rodrigo, seeking McLachlan’s blessing was about honoring that legacy while building something new. By involving McLachlan, Rodrigo connected Daisy Chain Fields to a lineage of women-centered music events, bridging the gap between the 1990s and the present day.
McLachlan’s presence also signaled that the conversation about women in music is ongoing. While women have made significant strides in the industry, festivals and events that center women’s voices remain important for visibility, representation, and community building.
Lilith Fair ran from 1997 to 1999 and was the most successful all-female music festival in history. It featured more than 120 female artists and sold over 1.5 million tickets across its three-year run . The festival’s impact extended beyond ticket sales; it challenged industry assumptions about women as headliners and demonstrated that audiences were hungry for music by women.
The festival was created in response to sexism in the radio industry, where programmers often refused to play two female artists consecutively. McLachlan and her team set out to prove that women-led music could draw large crowds and generate significant revenue.
McLachlan revived Lilith Fair in 2010, though the revival did not achieve the same level of success as the original tour. Despite that, the festival’s legacy has endured, and McLachlan remains a symbol of women’s empowerment in music.
Rodrigo has spoken about wanting Daisy Chain Fields to feel different from the typical music festival. She described it as a “women-focused festival” designed to uplift and celebrate female artists . The event also aimed to create a sense of community, with a charitable component that supported women’s organizations.
Rodrigo’s vision was shaped by her own experiences as a young woman in the music industry. She has been open about the challenges of navigating a male-dominated field, and Daisy Chain Fields represented an opportunity to create a space where women artists could thrive on their own terms.
The festival’s lineup reflected its mission, featuring artists across different genres and generations. By including both emerging artists and established performers, Rodrigo created a platform that showcased the diversity of women’s music.
Daisy Chain Fields brought together a diverse range of artists, spanning multiple decades and musical styles. The lineup included:
The festival also featured surprise collaborations, including a performance by McLachlan and Rodrigo together. This range of artists reflected the festival’s mission to celebrate women’s contributions to music across generations and genres.
The connection between McLachlan and Rodrigo is significant because it represents a bridge between two eras of women in music. McLachlan, who rose to fame in the 1990s, was a pioneer in creating space for women in the industry. Rodrigo, who emerged in the 2020s, represents a generation that has benefited from the groundwork laid by artists like McLachlan.
Their collaboration at Daisy Chain Fields symbolized a passing of the torch — a recognition that the work of women in music is ongoing and that each generation builds on the achievements of those who came before.
Rodrigo’s description of receiving McLachlan’s “blessing” reflects the importance of mentorship and validation in the music industry. For a younger artist, the approval of an established figure can provide both emotional support and professional credibility.
McLachlan’s endorsement also carried historical weight. Because she had created Lilith Fair, her approval of Daisy Chain Fields signaled that the new festival was continuing a tradition she had helped establish.
McLachlan performed at Daisy Chain Fields and collaborated with Rodrigo on stage. The two artists performed “Angel,” one of McLachlan’s most beloved songs, during the festival. The performance was connected to a tribute to Dolly Parton, who was reportedly unable to attend because of scheduling issues.
The collaboration was a highlight of the festival, bringing together two generations of singer-songwriters in a moment of musical harmony.
Rodrigo and McLachlan’s performance of “Angel” was one of the most talked-about moments of Daisy Chain Fields. The song, which has become one of McLachlan’s signature tracks, was performed by the two artists in a duet that showcased their shared emotional depth and vocal talent.
The performance was also connected to a wider tribute to Dolly Parton, a pioneering female artist who has influenced generations of musicians. Parton was reportedly unable to attend Daisy Chain Fields because of scheduling conflicts, but her influence loomed large over the festival.
Daisy Chain Fields was more than just a music festival; it was a charitable event that supported women’s organizations. The festival partnered with the Women’s Center for Creative Work (WCCW), the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Downtown Women’s Center, with a portion of proceeds benefiting those organizations .
The festival’s charitable component reflected Rodrigo’s commitment to using her platform to support causes that matter to her. By combining music with philanthropy, Daisy Chain Fields created an event that was both entertaining and meaningful.
Daisy Chain Fields demonstrated that music festivals can be more than just commercial events. By centering women artists and supporting charitable causes, the festival created a space where music, activism, and community intersected.
The event also showcased the power of intergenerational collaboration. By bringing together artists from different decades, Daisy Chain Fields illustrated how the work of women in music is cumulative — each generation builds on the achievements of the previous one.
Rodrigo has emerged as more than just a singer-songwriter; she has also become a voice for social causes. Her involvement in Daisy Chain Fields reflects her commitment to using her platform to support women and girls.
Rodrigo’s advocacy has included support for reproductive rights and gender equality. She has spoken about the importance of women supporting women, and Daisy Chain Fields was a tangible expression of that belief.
McLachlan’s approval of Daisy Chain Fields is significant because she represents a generation of artists who fought for space in a male-dominated industry. Her experience with Lilith Fair gave her firsthand knowledge of the challenges and rewards of creating women-centered music events.
Rodrigo’s decision to seek McLachlan’s blessing reflected her understanding of music history. By involving McLachlan, Rodrigo connected Daisy Chain Fields to a broader tradition of women’s activism in music.
Daisy Chain Fields has the potential to inspire future music events centered on women artists. The festival demonstrated that there is an audience for music that celebrates women’s voices and that such events can be both successful and meaningful.
If Daisy Chain Fields becomes an annual event, it could serve as a platform for emerging women artists and create opportunities for collaboration across generations. The festival’s combination of music, community, and philanthropy offers a model for how music events can be both entertaining and socially responsible.
The connection between Rodrigo and McLachlan is more than a celebrity collaboration; it’s a link between two eras of women in music. McLachlan’s work with Lilith Fair helped create the conditions for artists like Rodrigo to thrive, and Rodrigo’s decision to honor that legacy by seeking McLachlan’s involvement was a meaningful gesture.
The Daisy Chain Fields festival was a moment of continuity—a recognition that the work of women in music is ongoing and that each generation must contribute to building the future.
1. Why was Olivia Rodrigo “over the moon” about Sarah McLachlan?
Olivia Rodrigo was “over the moon” because Sarah McLachlan, the co-founder of Lilith Fair and a trailblazer for women in music, gave her blessing and support for Daisy Chain Fields. It was a meaningful validation from an artist who had paved the way.
2. What is Daisy Chain Fields?
Daisy Chain Fields is a women-focused music festival curated and headlined by Olivia Rodrigo. It took place on September 5, 2026, at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. The event featured a lineup of women artists and supported charitable organizations .
3. Why did Olivia Rodrigo seek Sarah McLachlan’s blessing?
Rodrigo sought McLachlan’s blessing because of McLachlan’s history as the co-founder of Lilith Fair, the groundbreaking 1990s festival that showcased women artists. McLachlan’s approval carried historical weight and validated the mission of Daisy Chain Fields.
4. What is Sarah McLachlan’s connection to Lilith Fair?
Sarah McLachlan co-founded Lilith Fair in the late 1990s as a response to sexism in the radio industry. The festival became the most successful all-female music event of its era and helped prove that women-led music could be commercially successful.
5. Did Olivia Rodrigo and Sarah McLachlan perform together?
Yes. Rodrigo and McLachlan performed “Angel” together at Daisy Chain Fields. The performance was also connected to a tribute to Dolly Parton.
6. What song did Olivia Rodrigo and Sarah McLachlan perform?
Rodrigo and McLachlan performed “Angel,” one of McLachlan’s signature songs, during the Daisy Chain Fields festival.
7. Who performed at Daisy Chain Fields?
The lineup included Olivia Rodrigo, Sarah McLachlan, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Bikini Kill, Garbage, and Mitski, along with surprise guests and collaborations .
8. What was the purpose of Daisy Chain Fields?
Daisy Chain Fields was a women-focused festival designed to celebrate and uplift women artists. It also supported charitable causes, partnering with the Women’s Center for Creative Work, the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Downtown Women’s Center .
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