Olivia Rodrigo‘s guitarist Arianna Powell has spoken about Robert Smith‘s surprise performance at Glastonbury 2025.
The Cure frontman appeared onstage with Rodrigo to perform the band’s classic tracks ‘Friday I’m In Love’ and ‘Just Like Heaven’ at Worthy Farm last month.
In an interview with Guitar World, Powell said that she “started crying” when she first heard Smith would be joining the star.
“We found out in Nashville when we were rehearsing for Bonnaroo, which ended up getting cancelled,” she said. “Stacy [Jones], our music director, came and told us, and was like, ‘This is very secret – you cannot tell anyone, but he’s going to be joining us.’ And I swear to God, I started crying. Like, I started tearing up.
Olivia Rodrigo and Arianna Powell perform at Glastonbury 2025 CREDIT: Andy Ford for NME
“Because I’m a huge fan, especially those guitar parts. I love, love, love, love, love, love, love the guitar parts, specifically in those songs, specifically ‘Friday I’m In Love’. So I was just so stoked to get to actually play that with the artist.”
Powell went on to say that Smith also helped put Rodrigo and her band at ease ahead of the performance.
She added: “He was so cool. He was leaving his dressing room door open for us to hang out. He wanted to talk and be social. Through conversations with him, he was just saying, ‘It’s just another show.’ And he was talking about how much he enjoys performing, and he loves it every time.
“That really inspired me and my energy for that night. Like, ‘Yeah, it’s just another show – and I love doing this.’ The collective energy of the band that day was really infectious.”
Following the team-up, Rodrigo posted photos including her hanging out with Smith backstage and doing shots with him, as well as a picture of her going to bed wearing a Cure t-shirt.
Rodrigo’s set at Glastonbury 2025 was given a four-star review from NME, and described as one that will “stand the test of time”.
“The flawless vocals and choreography sometimes work to make the set feel a little too perfect and polished, with seldom a moment for the singer to take a break from the carousel of hits to really connect with the eager fans amassed. That being said, there is no doubt about the commitment that Rodrigo has put into this set,” it read.
The review added: “Introducing him as “probably the greatest songwriter to come out of England”, Robert Smith took to the stage for unforgettable duets of The Cure classics ‘Friday I’m In Love’ and ‘Just Like Heaven’. It was electric, and closing Glasto in style is something the godfather of goth knows plenty about.”
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