She's been building to this one all year - and by her own account, it's the best thing she's ever written.
Olivia Rodrigo officially releases her second single, "The Cure," this Friday, May 22, 2026, through Geffen Records. The Filipina-American pop superstar made the announcement on her social media platforms, sharing the track's official title, artwork, and release date. "It's my favorite song on the album and one of my favorite songs I've ever made," she wrote. "Couldn't be more excited for you guys to hear it."
"The Cure" was written by Rodrigo alongside her longtime producer Dan Nigro. It arrives as the second single from her forthcoming third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, which is scheduled for release on June 12, 2026.
At 4 minutes and 57 seconds, it is the longest track in Rodrigo's discography to date - a notable choice for an artist who built her early career on punchy, direct pop songwriting. Whatever she is saying on this one, she needed the room.
The title is almost certainly a nod to the British rock band The Cure, whose music Rodrigo has cited as a major influence. She notably invited The Cure's Robert Smith onstage during her 2025 Glastonbury set for a performance of "Friday I'm In Love", and her lead single "Drop Dead" already contained a lyrical reference to the band. The single also drops on World Goth Day.
The album as a whole has been described by Rodrigo as a record full of "sad love songs," exploring how her favorite romantic tracks draw power from an undercurrent of fear or longing. It was shaped largely during her time in London. St. Louis
There is something quietly resonant about a young woman - raised Catholic, shaped by Filipino faith and family - writing her most personal song yet about healing and what it costs. Whatever "The Cure" turns out to be, it arrives Friday with the weight of everything she has been carrying.
"The Cure" is out May 22. You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love follows June 12.
Related Article: Olivia Rodrigo Teases Emotional New Single "The Cure" as Fans Speculate About Healing, Heartbreak, and Her Darkest Era Yet
