SZA recently opened up about her battle with anxiety and self-doubt during the Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar. Despite her critical acclaim and commercial success, the Grammy-winning artist admitted she feared fans only came to see Kendrick Lamar–not her.
In a candid interview with Interview Magazine alongside Chappell Roan, SZA revealed she often suffered panic attacks before major events. “Every time I had to go on stage or a red carpet, I’d have full-on panic attacks,” she said. “I’d skip things thinking, ‘I’m not going to win. No one cares I’m here.’”
Those feelings lingered on tour. “Everyone’s coming to see Kendrick,” she confessed. “I didn’t think I had anything exciting to offer.” The vulnerability mirrors a reality many performers face—even at the peak of their careers—when navigating comparison and public pressure.
Now, SZA says she’s learning to let go. “At this point, it’s like, ‘Fuck it,’” she said. “I want to see where this door leads. I’m walking through it.”
The Grand Central tour has sold out stadiums across North America. In Toronto, Kendrick returned to Drake’s hometown for the first time since their feud escalated. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he delivered a fierce rendition of “Not Like Us,” his chart-topping diss track, to a roaring Rogers Centre crowd that demanded an encore.
Drake, who had planned a livestream with Kai Cenat on the same night, quietly postponed the event without explanation. He later stirred backlash by calling a Toronto politician a “goof” for attending Kendrick’s concert, adding fuel to the city’s divided allegiances.
SZA’s transparency offered a softer, human counterpoint to the surrounding chaos. While Drake and Kendrick continue their lyrical standoff, she carves space for honesty and emotional growth. Her journey resonates with fans navigating their own insecurities, proving that strength often starts with vulnerability.
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