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With her breakout role in the comedy One of Them Days alongside Keke Palmer, SZA has officially entered her acting era with a bang. The comedy is already being heralded as a contender for one of the greatest buddy comedies of all time, and the year legit just started.

While the press tour surrounding the release of the film is filled with many buzz-worthy moments from SZA, Keke, and Issa Rae, it's SZA’s appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show that feels like a true headline moment. Especially when you think about all the ways SZA's journey has been inspired by the veteran actress-turned-talk show host.


And yes, we're talking about Drew Barrymore.

SZA and Drew Barrymore share a bond that transcends time and entertainment genres, one rooted in vulnerability and seeing the light in each other from seemingly opposite worlds. For SZA, Drew has been an endless source of inspiration, one she immortalized in the track “Drew Barrymore” on her 2017 Ctrl album. But what stood out during this talk show moment wasn’t just the song’s backstory, it was the emotional exchange that reminded us how cathartic it is to feel seen.

“It was inspired by you, it wasn’t just the title. The energy that you carry. Even my outfit is inspired by the way you made me feel my entire life. The carefree, the understanding,” SZA told Drew during the sit-down. She went on to share just how impactful Drew had been on her as a young Black girl who struggled to find relatable examples on TV:

“I wrote you this letter that I never sent you, but it talked about how, when you’re younger, and you’re a Black woman, there’s not a lot of examples all the time. One of the few lovely white women that I looked up to so much on television was you, because you were so yourself," she shared in the interview, "You were quirky. Your smile wasn’t perfect. I have a slight speech impediment, and people laugh all the time, like, ‘What is SZA saying?’ And it’s a running joke. But I love the way you talk and just all the you-ness of you — your laugh, even in the movies and in real life.”

For Drew, this revelation was humbling and heartfelt. Reflecting on SZA’s words, she said later, “I think maybe what you picked up when you were young, ’cause it’s no different now, is this lack of assumption. We are looking for permission to be ourselves. We are looking for someone to tell us it will be okay to be exactly who we are.”

This isn’t the first time SZA has expressed admiration for Drew’s impact. In an interview with Vulture, she described how Drew’s iconic role as Josie Gellar, nicknamed “Josie Grossie” in Never Been Kissed resonated deeply with her: “That’s my experience. I was hella outcast in school. I was watching it like, ‘Yes! Win for all of us!’” The character’s imperfections and awkward charm “made me feel better about being awkward and having crooked teeth and just being myself,” she told USA Today.

The 2017 music video for “Drew Barrymore” even included a cameo from Drew herself. But the January 2025 talk show appearance marked the first time they openly discussed together how the actress unknowingly inspired the track. For Drew, hearing how her authenticity impacted SZA brought things full circle: her life and career gave SZA the courage to be herself, while SZA’s music gave Drew the reminder that her own vulnerability had ripple effects she never anticipated.

SZA’s artistry has always been rooted in connection, and this moment highlighted the beauty of her gifts. Just as Drew once made her feel seen, SZA’s music has become a beacon for fans worldwide who recognize their own truths in her vulnerability.

This interaction serves as proof that authenticity transcends, uniting women from different walks of life through shared understanding and experiences. Drew Barrymore helped SZA feel seen as a young Black girl navigating her identity. Now, SZA’s music has returned that gift, helping Drew and all of us who listen see ourselves in ways where we see our wounds as wisdom and our you-ness and insecurities as things of beauty.

Speaking of music, SZA dropped SOS Deluxe: LANAlast December and is gearing up for the Grand National Tour alongside longtime collaborator Kendrick Lamar this year. But that’s not all. In fact, the “30 For 30” vocalist also hinted on X that she might be looking to dabble in children’s music. “To fulfill my last 2 album requirements I think I just wanna make peaceful children’s music n get outta here. Then go be a farmer n donate the produce to underserved communities,” she wrote.

One thing about SZA is she’s always going to do what makes sense to her as a creative. And as SZA fans, we pledge to always be there to eat it up.

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Featured image via The Drew Barrymore Show/YouTube Screenshot

 

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