Edwin McCain and Stephen Kramer Glickman are putting an unexpected spin on one of Olivia Rodrigo’s biggest heartbreak anthems. The double-platinum “I’ll Be” singer joined the “Big Time Rush” actor and musician in Los Angeles to record a duet of Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” for Glickman’s forthcoming album.
The pair also turned the collaboration into a very public spectacle, filming portions of its music video on rooftops around the city, including a performance above Universal Liquor on Cahuenga Boulevard. McCain exclusively told The Blast that their collaboration grew from a friendship they formed online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although McCain and Glickman come from different corners of the entertainment industry, the two discovered they had several things in common after connecting on TikTok. Their online friendship was strengthened by a shared connection to “Shrek the Musical,” but McCain said it was Glickman’s character, not only his creative work, that made him eager to collaborate.
“I love all the friendships I’ve made on TikTok. Stephen and I met there during COVID when we realized our connection to ‘Shrek the Musical.’ I’m a fan of his work, but more importantly I’m a fan of the good human he is. I wouldn’t have thought to do a cover of Olivia Rodrigo, but Stephen knows great songs, and I love the way it turned out!” McCain exclusively told The Blast.
The duet will be released through Red Slushy Records as part of Glickman’s new album, which is scheduled to arrive in fall 2026.
The Singers Took ‘Drivers License’ To An L.A. Rooftop
McCain traveled to Los Angeles to film the “Drivers License” music video with Glickman over the weekend. Rather than keeping the production hidden inside a studio, the performers took their duet onto rooftops around the city.
One of the most visible scenes was filmed atop Universal Liquor in Studio City, where passersby had an opportunity to witness the unusual pairing performing Rodrigo’s emotional breakup song. The setting gave the music video a distinctly Los Angeles backdrop while allowing the artists to create a public moment around the forthcoming release.
Rodrigo originally released “Drivers License” in January 2021. Glickman and McCain’s version will reinterpret the song by pairing their voices and musical styles. For McCain, covering Rodrigo was not an obvious choice. However, the singer credited Glickman with recognizing that the younger pop star’s hit could work for them.
Producer Jason LaRocca Calls The Duet An Album Highlight
Glickman worked on the project with twice Grammy-nominated producer Jason LaRocca, who was immediately impressed after hearing the recordings the singer brought into the process. LaRocca exclusively told The Blast that Glickman’s performance and delivery stood out before the album’s songs had even been fully mixed.
“Working on this record with Stephen was incredible. He showed me his raw recordings before we started mixing the songs, and I was blown away by his sound and delivery. The vibe on this record is a ton of fun, and his work with Edwin McCain on Drivers License is a highlight moment on the album for me,” LaRocca said.
Stephen Kramer Glickman Found New Success Through ‘Crazy’
Glickman is best known for playing volatile music producer Gustavo Rocque on Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush,” but his own recording career has grown considerably through social media. His dramatic cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” went viral on TikTok and introduced his singing voice to an enormous new audience.
A listing for Glickman’s 2026 West Hollywood performance credits his covers with collectively generating more than 8 billion plays and says “Crazy” reached No. 6 on a Billboard chart for five weeks. The viral cover also caught the attention of CeeLo Green, who invited Glickman to perform as an opening act after hearing his interpretation of the Gnarls Barkley hit. His forthcoming album continues that interest in dramatically reimagining recognizable songs.
Glickman Recently Reunited With The ‘Big Time Rush’ Cast On Tour
The album comes after Glickman completed Big Time Rush’s extensive “In Real Life Worldwide” tour. The 73-show run began in July 2025 and continued into 2026, traveling across multiple continents. Glickman appeared as a supporting act alongside Katelyn Tarver, another familiar face from the Nickelodeon series.
The tour reunited him with Kendall Schmidt, Carlos PenaVega, Logan Henderson, and James Maslow while allowing fans to experience music from the show live. However, Glickman’s connection to Maslow began long before either performer was cast on “Big Time Rush.”
Maslow recently revealed on “The Joe Vulpis Podcast” that their families knew one another years before the Nickelodeon sitcom was developed. “Before the show was even a thought, before it was an idea, Glickie and I were just family friends,” Maslow shared.
The singer clarified that they were not especially close as children, but their parents were friends who occasionally gathered for Shabbat dinners and Jewish holidays. “I mean, we had family friends in San Diego… It was his family and one other family,” Maslow said. “And we would just get together for like the occasional Shabbat dinner and mostly like high holiday dinners, you know, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and things like that.”
Years later, Glickman was cast as Gustavo shortly before production began, unexpectedly reuniting the two on what became a hit television series. Now, following that full-circle tour with his former co-stars, Glickman is moving into his next musical chapter.
