Melinda French Gates has matched the $10 million raised at Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival, bringing its total donation to $20 million.
Rodrigo headlined and curated the festival, which brought a female-led lineup to Irvine, California’s Great Park last Saturday (August 29). During a welcome panel the day before the festival, the “Drop Dead” hitmaker announced that the event raised $10 million for 10 non-profit organizations including Planned Parenthood, the National Institute for Reproductive Health, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.
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At the beginning of Rodrigo’s headlining set, French Gates—who co-founded the Gates Foundation with Bill Gates before founding her own Pivotal Ventures in 2015—made a surprise appearance to announce that her organization would be matching the $10 million donation.
“What I love about you is that you know the real power is not up here on stage, it’s with everybody there,” French Gates said, praising Rodrigo before addressing the crowd directly. “When women and girls come together to dream and to lead, we change the world. And so long after the lights go down from this festival, the organizations doing this work will keep doing it because you all are here. So thank you for being here, and thank you, Olivia.”
French Gates gave further kudos to Rodrigo in an Instagram post, writing: “What Daisy Chain Fields set in motion will last far beyond a single night,” adding that she was “inspired” by Rodrigo’s vision.
@jessicagolich Melinda Gates DOUBLES Olivia Rodrigo’s $10M raised for Daisy Chain Fields to $20M!!! 🥹🤩 #oliviarodrigo #daisychainfields #daisychain ♬ original sound – JessicaGolich
Daisy Chain Fields was inspired by Lilith Fair, the touring music festival founded by Sarah McLachlan which ran from 1997 to 1999. McLachlan started Lilith Fair due to her frustration with women being underrepresented on radio stations and festival lineups. Nearly 30 years later, she was one of three special guests during Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain set; together, the pair sang McLachlan’s 1997 singles “Building a Mystery” and “Angel.” The latter song was dedicated to Dolly Parton, who died less than a week before the festival.
Later on in Rodrigo’s set, she duetted “Ironic” with Alanis Morissette, who was a surprise replacement after Karen O had to back out. The festival closed with Rodrigo and Stevie Nicks singing the Fleetwood Mac classic “Landslide.” Afterwards, Rodrigo seemed to confirm that Daisy Chain Fields would return in 2027: “Goodnight, and I will see you next year!”
The inaugural Daisy Chain Fields lineup included Bikini Kill, Chappell Roan, Devon Again, Die Spitz, Doechii, Eli, Garbage, Mitski, Not for Radio, Quiet light, Rachel Chinouriri, Santigold, and the Breeders. Aside from the music, the festival included various installations from women artists like Yoko Ono, Jenny Holzer, the Guerrilla Girls, and more. Rodrigo’s set also featured the live debut of “Serena Joy,” her new single named after the antagonist in Margaret Atwood’s classic feminist novel The Handmaid’s Tale.
Back in June, she released her third studio album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, which she’ll be taking on the road with her Unraveled Tour, which kicks off in September.
