SZA Opens Up About The Complications Of Fame

Sza attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards

SZA admits she never truly understood what she was stepping into when she ascended to superstardom.

For the four-time Grammy winner, fame remains an unfamiliar and often unsettling experience even after a decade in the public eye. This sentiment took center stage during her candid interview with Extra, where she joined Issa Rae and Keke Palmer to discuss the complexities of living in the spotlight.

“Some people are naturally equipped for being perceived,” SZA shared, crediting Palmer for her poise under pressure. “Keke has this incredible ability where everything flows, even when the cameras are on.” In contrast, the R&B star, born Solana Imani Rowe, feels adrift in such situations. “I don’t know what’s going on half the time,” she admitted. “I didn’t grow up famous. I grew up in the suburbs, went to regular schools, attended a regular college, and worked normal jobs until everything suddenly took off.”

This sudden shift into the limelight hasn’t been easy to navigate. “I’ve never been scrutinized like this before,” she said. “It’s been a journey to feel safe enough to relax, to let my shoulders down, and to realize I’m not in danger just because strangers are watching me.” Palmer echoed her sentiments, describing fame as inherently “weird.” SZA added that people often mistake her for being more at ease with her celebrity status than she truly is.

The assumption that fame was her goal in the first place has been another source of frustration. “People say, ‘That’s what you signed up for,’ but honestly, I didn’t know what I was signing up for,” she said. “I just made a few songs, was grateful people liked them, and kept going.”

Despite her discomfort with fame, SZA’s career shows no signs of slowing down. Her latest album, SOS Deluxe: Lana, released on December 20, follows the immense success of SOS, which dominated the Billboard 200 chart for weeks. In December, the album reclaimed the No. 1 spot, fueled by the anticipation surrounding the deluxe reissue.

Looking ahead, SZA has expressed a desire to explore new creative avenues, including making children’s albums. This endeavor would allow her to channel her artistry outside the constraints of mainstream music. While fame might remain a strange and sometimes overwhelming force in her life, SZA continues to embrace her journey with authenticity and purpose.


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