Call Her Daddy – Alex Cooper Presents: A Grammy Special (ft. Rosé)

Release Date: January 28, 2026

Host: Alex Cooper
Guest: Rosé (BLACKPINK)
Location: Seoul, South Korea (with final segments in Tokyo)

Episode Overview

In this Grammy Special episode of Call Her Daddy, host Alex Cooper travels to Seoul to spend a day with K-pop superstar Rosé from BLACKPINK. They explore Rosé's journey from her upbringing in Australia to her experiences as a BLACKPINK member and now a Grammy-nominated solo artist. The conversation is intimate and wide-ranging, covering fame, cultural identity, friendships, family, creativity, toxic love, and personal growth. Alex and Rosé share food, hit the studio, and attend a BLACKPINK concert, resulting in one of the show's most personal, vulnerable interviews.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meeting in Seoul & Cultural Immersion

• [05:04–05:52] Alex arrives in Korea for the first time, excited to experience Rosé's culture and to share the moment with her. They discuss what it's like for Rosé to go to normal places in Seoul, dealing with fame and the need for disguise.
  • Rosé: “If I cover up properly, it’s usually the hair. But I look like a murderer, basically, just this dark thing walking around...” [05:37]

2. Rosé’s Audition and Trainee Days

• [05:52–10:04] Rosé recalls her unlikely journey from singing at home in Australia to flying alone to Korea at age 15 after being encouraged by her dad to audition for YG Entertainment. She came first out of thousands of hopefuls.
  • Rosé: “I’m not a great singer, am I? …Am I, Dad?” [06:10]
  • Expresses self-doubt, surprise at being chosen, and her father’s pivotal role.

3. Alone in Korea – The Reality of Trainee Life

• [08:41–14:34] Rosé shares the emotional difficulty of being dropped off by her parents and suddenly left alone with strangers, the shock of all-day, all-night boot camp training, and the struggles of homesickness and lack of privacy.
  • Rosé: “I put my nose on the corner and just started sobbing... the girls all came around and hugged me.” [09:00]
  • The only time she could express vulnerability was alone in the shower.

4. Navigating Korean Culture and Identity

• [22:04–24:33] Rosé discusses feeling like an outsider both in Australia and Korea—never fully fitting in either place—and how she’s come to embrace her mix of cultures.
  • Rosé: “I feel like I just belong to myself... whatever culture I am, it’s a mixture of a bunch of things.” [23:40]

5. Fame, Anonymity, and Cravings for Normalcy

• [14:34–17:32] Rosé reflects on the lack of freedom and the desire for anonymity, wishing she could just walk around a theme park hand-in-hand with a boyfriend, being cute and cheesy with no cameras.
  • Rosé: “Freedom is being anonymous... If I could be anonymous for a day, I’d feel free.” [14:48]
  • Dreams of “cringe” couple moments untouched by the public eye.

6. Food Tour and Culture Shock

• [18:07–22:04] Rosé introduces Alex to a traditional Korean food stall, sharing stories and teaching her how to drink somaek (soju-beer cocktail). They bond over kimchi stew, dried squid, and omelets, revealing new sides of themselves.

7. Stage Persona vs. Real Identity

• [26:20–29:30] Discussion about difference between “Rosé of BLACKPINK” and “Rosie,” her off-stage persona.
  • Rosé: “Creating my first solo album was discovery of ‘Who am I?’... Rosie was what my friends and family call me at home.” [27:12–27:39]
  • Her stage name was chosen by the company, and she embraced it gradually.

8. Idol Pressures and Body Image

• [31:10–35:28] Rosé reflects on the pressures of being an “idol” in Korea, the cultural expectation for perfection, and how her image and self-worth evolved. She’s grateful to act as representation for diverse girls globally.
  • Rosé: “I always thought, I want to be as big as Beyoncé... Over the years, reality kind of hit. Now it means way more than I thought it does.” [31:31]

9. BLACKPINK’s Recent Break and Independent Growth

• [43:16–48:12] Rosé describes behind-the-scenes conversations as BLACKPINK paused group activities to pursue individual projects, emphasizing health, growth, and support.
  • Rosé: “We’re also growing up… we haven’t had time to be ourselves or explore that ever. So we allowed ourselves that year.” [43:55]
  • New contracts were handled carefully, with more awareness than as teens.

10. Dynamics within BLACKPINK

• [47:35–49:41] On her relationship with the other members:
  • Rosé: “We’re best friends, sisters, family, colleagues—it’s all that combined. More layers have added on…” [47:35]
  • The year apart made their bond more solid and unique.

11. Songwriting, Vulnerability, and Creative Freedom

• [40:24–41:14] Rosé’s songwriting is deeply personal, like therapy—saving feelings for the studio, turning pain and insecurity into music.
  • Rosé: “I just need to not think… for the last album, I’d just let it out there, like a journal.” [40:24]

12. Writing about Insecurity and Toxic Love

• [52:01–62:31] The pair discuss “Number One Girl” and how Rosé channelled real, “embarrassing” feelings of comparison, validation-seeking, and criticism from online comments into her solo work. She discusses themes of toxic relationship cycles, people-pleasing, and boundary-setting.
  • Rosé: “I’ve let people get away with a lot of things that made me sad… sometimes I protect people and I don’t know why.” [55:41]
  • On red flags: “If they’re not being super nice to your friends or family… they should make an extra effort.” [62:31]

13. Privacy and Relationships in the Spotlight

• [64:27–68:20] Rosé explains that she keeps her dating life private to protect her loved ones from fans and media scrutiny. She shares funny and poignant stories, including disguising herself as an elderly woman to avoid paparazzi.
  • Rosé: “I ordered a wig, studied how elderly women would dress, and traveled that way just in case…” [70:04]
  • She admits dating in the industry feels safer: “Only because they get it… I feel more natural, less paranoid.” [72:57–74:13]

14. Navigating Validation, Social Media and Fan Expectations

• [79:32–82:14] Rosé describes how releasing honest music like “Number One Girl” shifted both her sense of self and the way fans treat her and her team online.
  • Rosé: “One thing I love is that I’m not conscious about if my fans will like or dislike my look today… I was so insecure and conscious before.” [81:07]

15. Grammy Nomination and Reflections on Success

• [50:29–52:01], [89:29–90:52] Rosé describes the disbelief and excitement of becoming Grammy-nominated, drawing parallels to her initial move to Korea.
  • Rosé: “This nomination… it feels like, oh my gosh, I never thought that would be possible.” [51:49]
  • Learning to enjoy small victories and keep perspective.

16. BLACKPINK's Future & Personal Dreams

• [95:22–100:24] Rosé hints at a new BLACKPINK album, upcoming collaborations, and her own hopes for solo touring, emphasizing a desire to take time and build a meaningful creative world.
  • Rosé: “I want to be able to create a real solid world to present to everyone… I don’t want to feel rushed.” [96:51]
  • On her dreams: “I hope in 10 or 20 years, I’m just at the place I want to be and I’ve found what makes me happy and peaceful.” [98:58]

17. Vulnerability, Online Response, and Hope for Change

• [101:02–103:46] Reflecting on the experience, Rosé expresses both the fear and liberation that come with such raw honesty in public forums; she hopes sharing her story might foster a kinder, more understanding fan culture and media environment.
  • Rosé: “I was already back in fear... Do you think anything I said will turn back on me?... I’m hoping next time I’ll be more comfortable, more safe out in the open.” [101:09–102:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Fear and Vulnerability

• Rosé: “I remember I’d cry in the shower… I didn’t want to show anyone my tears… I’d walk out and be like, I’m back.” [13:36]

On Anonymity and “Cringe” Dream Dates

• Rosé: “My dream for a long time is… I’ve always dreamed of going to a theme park with a boyfriend…” [15:54]

On Being an Outsider

• Rosé: “My whole life has been a bit… trying to figure out where I belong… there’s a beauty in that.” [23:40]

On Being Grammy-Nominated

• Rosé: “I didn’t think it would be a possibility… it’s like the second chapter of my life, being like, oh my gosh.” [51:49]

On Identity and Solo Music

• Rosé: “Rosie has been such a big part of my life… I noticed it was closer to introducing a different version of me.” [27:39]

On Handling Dating Rumors

• Rosé: “I was so paranoid… I ordered a wig… studied how elderly women dressed… I had a whole section of grandma clothes!” [70:04–71:31]

On Creative Process & Songwriting

• Rosé: “I just need to not think… I’d save stories for the studio so it felt intimate and like a journal.” [40:24]

On Fan Criticism & Control

• Rosé: “One thing I love is that I’m not conscious about if my fans like or dislike my look today… I was so insecure before.” [81:07]

On the Importance of Representation

• Alex Cooper: “You are now the girl you wished you could have looked up to as a young child.” [33:11]

Important Timestamps

• 05:04 – Alex and Rosé first meet in Seoul
• 09:00 – Rosé’s emotional memory of her first night as a trainee
• 14:34 – What freedom means to Rosé (anonymity)
• 22:04–24:33 – Cultural identity and belonging
• 26:20–29:30 – Rosé’s stage persona vs. her real self ("Rosie")
• 31:10–35:28 – Pressures of being a K-pop idol
• 40:24 – Rosé’s songwriting is her therapy
• 43:16 – BLACKPINK’s break and the members’ independent pursuits
• 47:35 – Relationship between BLACKPINK members
• 50:29 – First reaction to Grammy nomination
• 52:01 – Discussion of “Number One Girl” and emotional transparency
• 55:41 – On boundaries and people-pleasing in relationships
• 62:31 – Red flags in dating (“not being nice to friends/family”)
• 70:04–71:31 – Rosé’s “grandma disguise” story
• 81:07 – Impact of fan and industry criticism on image/self-worth
• 89:29–90:52 – Finding out about the Grammy nomination
• 95:22–100:24 – Hints about BLACKPINK’s next era and Rosé’s own dreams for the future
• 101:02–102:44 – Rosé’s post-interview reflections on vulnerability and hope for kinder discourse

Final Thoughts & Tone

The tone of this episode is unfiltered, candid, and deeply human—blending laughter, emotional honesty, and cultural discovery. Alex Cooper demonstrates adept sensitivity in her questioning, providing safe space for Rosé to dismantle barriers that come with being a global superstar and a K-pop idol. Rosé is self-aware, funny, and introspective; her vulnerability and insights illuminate the unique costs and joys of her life in the spotlight.

Closing Reflection

This “Grammy Special” offers a rare, multidimensional portrait of Rosé. Suitable for fans, the “Daddy Gang,” or anyone curious about global pop culture, it highlights the universal search for identity, love, validation, and belonging—reminding listeners that even the world’s brightest stars crave the same simple freedoms.

Next up? Rosé and Alex promise a "season two" of their k-drama friendship—hopefully featuring more food, fun, and fewer tears.

Structured summary by Podcast Summarizer AI (2026).