Niall Horan Praises Olivia Rodrigo for Bringing Bridges Back to Pop Music

Niall Horan has credited Olivia Rodrigo with influencing a return to the use of bridges in contemporary pop songwriting. In an interview with Rolling Stone published April 30, 2026, the former One Direction member highlighted how Rodrigo’s approach to song structure has impacted other writers in the genre.

Horan expressed appreciation for the musical shifts found in Rodrigo’s work, specifically noting her ability to transition a song into a different musical direction. He praised the collaboration between Rodrigo and producer Dan Nigro, stating that their work is definitely influencing people, including myself.

What I like about Olivia’s music is [that] you feel like you’re getting one song and then you get a completely different song. It completely flips on its head musically, goes somewhere different, brings you to a bridge, brings you to some weird musical breakdown thing. Whatever [she] and Dan Nigro are up to is a good little team they’ve got going there.

Niall Horan, via Rolling Stone

These comments follow a period of significant chart success for Rodrigo, who recently earned her fourth career Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper with the song Drop Dead.

Upcoming Album and Rock Influences

The discussion regarding songwriting coincided with details about Horan’s forthcoming album, Dinner Party, which is scheduled for release on June 5 via Capitol Records. The project serves as the official follow-up to his 2023 album, The Show, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

Horan has already released two tracks from the upcoming record: the title track Dinner Party and Little More Time. Both songs were co-produced by Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, and Afterhrs.

In the Rolling Stone interview, Horan explained that Dinner Party incorporates more rock elements, drawing from his lifelong interest in pop-punk bands such as Blink-182. He noted that he sought a specific drum sound reminiscent of the punk-rock era of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Rock’s been a big influence in my life since I was a child. I write pop songs, but dressing them up in a different way sometimes is quite cool. And now, the way my career is going, I’m completely thinking about live shows all the time.

Niall Horan, via Rolling Stone

Horan attributed this shift toward rock-influenced sounds to his experiences performing live, stating that the rockier stuff typically receives the strongest response from audiences during his shows.

Touring and One Direction Legacy

To support the new album, Horan will embark on a 22-date tour spanning the U.K., Ireland, and Europe. He has scheduled two U.S. Stadium performances for 2026, promoted by Live Nation:

• July 9: GEODIS Park in Nashville
• July 19: Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa.

These U.S. Shows will feature country artist Thomas Rhett, along with opening acts Emily Ann Roberts and Kashus Culpepper.

The current release cycle marks a rare moment where all four surviving members of One Direction are touring and releasing new music within the same calendar year. Horan is the fourth member to put out a new project in 2026, following a series of releases from his former bandmates:

• Louis Tomlinson released How Did I Get Here? in January.
• Harry Styles released Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally in March, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
• ZAYN released Konnakol on April 17.

Horan spoke positively about the solo trajectories of his former colleagues. He described a Harry Styles show he attended a few years prior as wild and madness, comparing the atmosphere to the original One Direction stadium tours. He also indicated plans to attend a Louis Tomlinson performance in the coming weeks.