SZA just had a full-circle moment with Drew Barrymore.
While appearing on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” SZA shared an emotional connection with the host — one that spanned back to 2017, when the singer released a song named “Drew Barrymore.”
“I was so excited when I heard the song with my name in the title,” Barrymore said.
SZA quickly responded, saying it was “inspired” by Barrymore’s “energy,” not just her name.
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The conversation deepened when the “Good Days” singer became vulnerable, revealing that she’d admired Barrymore for years. Even her outfit on the show, she said, was a nod to the “carefree” way Barrymore made her feel for her “entire life.”
“I wrote you this letter that I never sent you,” SZA said. “It talked about, I guess, when you’re younger and a Black woman, there’s not a lot of examples all the time — and one of the few lovely white women that I looked up to so much on television, it was you, because you were so yourself,” she said.
Barrymore’s unapologetic nature resonated with SZA, she said, the “Charlie’s Angels” actor was always herself. That helped give the singer free reign to accept her flaws.
“It just reminds me of all of the things about myself that make me nervous, but on you, it shines so brightly,” SZA said, getting emotional.
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The “Never Been Kissed” actor admitted that she didn’t think the song was truly based on her because of “humble insecurity.”
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“I always still convinced myself that it was just words that she used for the song,” Barrymore said of SZA. Barrymore recounted being around when the singer shot her music video, and SZA revealed that she’d been shocked that the star actually agreed to an appearance.
The “50 First Dates” actor affirmed SZA’s statements about seeking permission to be herself.
“We are looking for permission to be ourselves,” Barrymore said. “We are looking for someone to tell us it will be OK to be exactly who we are.”
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