Olivia Rodrigo has worked her magic in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge once again, delivering an exquisite cover of CMAT’s “When a Good Man Cries” on Tuesday (June 2).
The pop star, who will release her third LP, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, on June 12, surprised listeners by including the CMAT track in her session, alongside a performance of new single “The Cure.”
The moment didn’t go unnoticed by CMAT (born Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson), who reacted via a playful Instagram post, writing: “She sang it better than me, so now I’m toast.”
Fans are reacting to the cover as clips began circulating online. On Reddit, listeners described the cover as “so random and wonderful,” while others celebrated seeing “two worlds coming together,” suggesting it could introduce CMAT’s music to a larger audience.
“When a Good Man Cries” features on CMAT’s breakout record Euro-Country, which was released in summer 2025 to critical acclaim. The album, which marked the 30-year-old’s third studio album, landed a Mercury Prize nomination and earned the Ivor Novello award for best album at May’s ceremony.
Her profile has continued to rise through major festival appearances, including a Pyramid Stage slot at Glastonbury in 2025, and the viral success of Euro-Country single “Take a Sexy Picture of Me.” The latter inspired a TikTok dance trend dubbed the “Woke Macarena” and earned CMAT her first placement on the Official U.K. Singles Chart (No. 42 peak).
Rodrigo’s performance comes at a particularly meaningful moment for CMAT. In recent days, the Irish singer publicly addressed body-shaming comments she received following a set at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend on May 23, sharing her frustration and “deep sadness” over the scrutiny directed at her appearance. The post prompted an outpouring of support from fans and artists alike, while Rodrigo has also recently spoken out against online commentary against a series of babydoll dresses worn during her current album campaign.
Rodrigo is no stranger to the Live Lounge format. During her last BBC Radio 1 appearance in 2023, the singer put her own spin on Noah Kahan’s smash hit “Stick Season,” which quickly became one of the most viewed covers from that year’s Live Lounge Month.
The 23-year-old kicked off the You Seem Pretty Sad … era in April with the release of the album’s lead single, “Drop Dead.” The track, which was accompanied by a video filmed at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, debuted atop both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
Watch Rodrigo cover “When a Good Man Cries” above, and perform “The Cure” for Live Lounge below:
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