Olivia Rodrigo Makes MSG Debut: 8 Best Moments From Her First NYC Guts Tour Show

Early on in her set, Rodrigo took a moment to acknowledge the magnitude of the night’s hallowed location, where most artists only ever dream of performing. “This is a very special night — my first night at Madison Square Garden,” she said breathlessly, brown eyes wide as they took in the sea of fans in front of her. “It’s incredible. I’m really excited. Tonight’s going to be so f–king fun.”

The artist’s return to New York — which she later asserted is the “greatest city in the world” — was made even more special by the fact that most of the show’s songs were written there, as she now lives in a Greenwich Village apartment. “I’m very, very grateful you’re here,” she added. “Thank you so much.”

While singing her Billboard Hot 100-topping Guts lead single “Vampire,” Rodrigo prompted the audience to sing — no, scream — the lyric, “Girls your age know better.”

With a crowd full of girls much younger than her in attendance, it was a small but profound way for the pop star to emphasize to them which suitors to steer clear of — hopefully saving many of the kiddos in homemade T-shirts and facepaint from falling into the same traps she did as they grow up.

Rodrigo’s premiere performance at Madison Square also marked The Breeders’ first show as Guts Tour openers. After their set, before accompanying herself on piano to sing “Teenage Dream,” the headliner made sure to give the ’90s rock figureheads their flowers.

“How incredible were The Breeders?” she said, smiling. “I’m such a huge fan. I remember my life in two distinct periods: before I heard ‘Cannonball’ and after I heard ‘Cannonball.’ I’m so honored to be playing this show with them.”

Of course, Rodrigo had to take a second to address the elephant in the room. While flying high over the heads of the crowd on her floating crescent moon set piece, on which she sings the Guts and Sour sister ballads “Logical” and “Enough for You,” the musician quipped, “All I’m thinking is I’m glad the earthquake didn’t happen when I was on this thing.”

In between songs, Rodrigo took some time to interact with the crowd, at one point shouting out a group of elementary-age girls in matching purple dresses. “Look at those cuties! How sweet! I love little best friends.”

Then, while asking whether any of her fans had come to the show with their mothers, the former Disney star spotted her own TV mom: Michelle Noh, who played one of her character’s parents on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. “Oh my goodness!” she chirped. “That’s crazy — speaking of moms — she played my mom on High School Musical! I didn’t know you were here. Oh my god, that’s amazing. Wow, that is such a meta moment, we actually did not plan that.”

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the night came midway through the show, when Rodrigo brought out special guest Noah Kahan for a live duet that fans have been craving ever since the “Good 4 U” singer covered the New England native’s hit “Stick Season” on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge in October.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all tour,” Rodrigo said before Kahan stepped out. “There’s this artist that I really love, and I found his music about a year ago and instantly became obsessed. He’s an incredible songwriter, an incredible singer.”

After sharing a hug, the two performers both played guitars as they traded lines of the “Stick Season” verses, their voices intertwining in harmony during the chorus. “Noah Kahan, everybody!” Rodrigo cheered as the folk singer exited the stage.

One of the best parts of Rodrigo’s show was her palpably strong friendships with her band, which is made up of all-female musicians. During a break between songs, she made sure that bassist Moa Munoz — who got her big moment playing the solo riffs to “Jealousy, Jealousy” at another point — got the birthday celebration she deserved by getting the whole arena onboard for a feel-good group sing-along to “Happy Birthday.”

Rodrigo paid one last tribute to New York City by taking the stage for encore performances of “Good 4 U” and “Get Him Back!” in a tank top reading, “Carrie Bradshaw AF.”

As the Sex and the City leading lady might say: And just like that… Liv’s first-ever show at the Garden was in the books.