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Lizzo  

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American singer, rapper, songwriter, and flutist Lizzo is a modern sensation. Her genre-blending style, dance-worthy beats, and relentlessly positive message has made her has become far more than a musician for millions of people worldwide: She is an inspiration and a leader.

Lizzo — real name Melissa Viviane Jefferson—was born in Detroit, Michigan. She relocated to Houston, Texas, at age 10, and graduated high school with eight years of classical flute training and nearly as many years of rapping under her belt. Her talent for the flute took her to the University of Houston to study classical music. At age 21, her father died, and she began earnest attempts to break into the music industry, dropping out of college and living out of her car for a year.

In 2011, Lizzo moved to the Twin Cities and formed several groups including the electro-soul band Lizzo & the Larva Ink, which became popular in the Minneapolis area. However, it was her debut hip-hop album that showcased her unique style. Called Lizzobangers, this album received immediate critical acclaim and was heralded for its “joyfully nonsensical” “stream-of-consciousness rhymes.”

In 2013, just two years after moving to Minneapolis, Lizzo toured the UK and the US opening for Har Mar Superstar and was selected for the “Picked to Click” award for Best New Artist in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul). Her debut album was re-released by Virgin Records, and Lizzo rounded the year off by performing with St. Paul and the Broken Bones.

Lizzo made quick work in taking over Minneapolis, but a more global audience was awaiting her. She took part in StyleLikeU’s “What’s Underneath” project in 2014, taking off articles of clothing and discussing body image. That experience partly inspired her forthcoming second album Big Grrrl Small World, and was the subject of her song “My Skin.”

Big Grrrl Small World came out December 11, 2015, and was named one of the 50 best hip-hop albums of the year by Spin magazine. Coconut Oil, Lizzo’s first major-label EP, came out October 2016. Led by the chart-topping single “Good as Hell,” this EP focused on self-love and body positivity how-to’s. It was a huge critical success, called “essential for healthy living” by Nylon. It even made Rolling Stone’s “20 Best Pop Albums of 2016” list and was her first release to reach the charts.

Lizzo rode the wave into 2017 with the Good as Hell tour, and in early 2018, she toured with Florence and the Machine and Haim. Though she was quickly becoming the face of body positivity in music, she made a point of promoting diverse body types, races, sexuality, and more. The Big Grrrls backup dancers were all plus-size.

Lizzo’s third studio album, Cuz I Love You, was preceded by the release of her single “Juice.” The album dropped on April 19, 2019, and marked a breakthrough moment in her career. She performed at Coachella and reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart. Her single “Truth Hurts” was a sleeper hit, slowly rising to #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. This made her the first Black solo female R&B singer to hit the number-one spot since 2012.

In the time since, Lizzo has live-performed flute at the BET Awards, at pride festivals in Sacramento and Indianapolis, at the Glastonbury Festival, in Somerset, UK, on Saturday Night Live, at the Australian FOMO Festival, and in other big spots around the world. She’s won three Grammys and has been nominated numerous times at the BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and more.

2021 saw the release of the song “Rumors,” followed by the 2022 release of “About Damn Time.” Lizzo said her fourth album, Special, was going to be “one of the most musically badass, daring, and sophisticated bodies of work I’ve done to date.” It came out on July 15, 2022, and was everything she promised it to be: diverse, genre-bending, and inspirational, just like her.

Live reviews

Lizzo's opener was her DJ Sophia Eris (whom I missed) and Empress Of, who is an alternative pop artist who I am a huge fan of and saw earlier at a smaller venue in San Diego. Her stage setup was quite minimal and it was unfortunate that the audience was still filtering in and not giving her and her band-mate (both were playing percussion and synth!) the attention that they deserved! It was super fun and I hope they at least got some new fans from opening for Lizzo. Unfortunately the sound quality was not the best- the bass was boosted so much and it drowned out the vocals for a while. I think the sound people were able to fix it halfway through. Empress Of is wonderful and everyone should see her solo show!

As expected, Lizzo was very high energy and the mix of her songs were great (Mix of Coconut Oil EP, Cuz I Love You, loosies like Boys). I love how her backup dancers were of different shapes and sizes. The songs flowed really well and she incorporated a lot of fun, interactive audience call + responses. Funniest part of the night is that she couldn't seem to remember which university the venue was at...she thought it was UCSD, and then was mouthed SDSU by the members in the front row...but misread and kept on calling it SCSU. It was pretty funny and she was self aware that she kept on goofing. Of course, the wonderful flute came out (I believe she played the theme of Anchorman and then transitioned to Juice for the encore). Obviously worth seeing, a Lizzo show will give you the seratonin boost you need.

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Let me start off by saying that going into this show, I was not really a big fan of Lizzo's music. It's not to say that I didn't like it, it's just not my go to type of music. My wife, she wasn't what I would really call a big fan either. After hearing a couple songs, and getting the scoop I decided to buy the tickets. This is one of the best shows I have ever been too. You should go see her as soon as you can. My wife is now a superfan and is planning on downloading every song. While she will not be on my ipod, she will be someone who I will see any chance I can. The show had great music. Lizzo is a master at getting the crowd involved, hyped and dancing.

Great show! Lizzo and her all-female crew of dancers and producers put on a fantastic, high-energy show full of positivity and joy. The smallish venue (the latest incarnation of Antone's, with capacity for 700) was packed, but there was nothing but love all around. I loved how Lizzo brought up one of the fans on stage to dance with her and took requests from the crowd for what to play for the 2 encore songs. I only wish she could have performed longer and showed off more of her impressive rapid-fire rap skills from her earlier tracks. The local opening act, Magna Carda, also put on a strong show with a fierce female lead MC and a full rock band backing her up.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

Lizzo is absolutely 100% that bitch, and I love her for it. I am often disappointed by concerts because Beyonce was actually one of the first concerts I ever attended and no one can ever even come close. So far Lizzo is the only one match the performance and heart of a Beyonce show! Lizzo is her own Beyonce and she knows it. There's a singer and then there's a performer. Lizzo clearly knows how to connect with every single one of her fans and make you feel loved. It was probably the most love filled shows I've ever attended. I cannot wait to see her again!!!!

That. Was. A. Show.

Lizzo offered herself as the next Prime Minister, but on reflection thought she wanted to be POTUS.

That's a brilliant idea.

Sexy, sweet and silly, funny, funky, intelligent and cool in equal measure, with the noisiest audience I can remember - ever - screaming, chanting and singing along. "The Big Girls" were relentless too; non-stop, action-packed, sexy and fearless.

The parts that could have been cheesy were charming, affecting and life-affirming because, for all the flippancy, she means it. She's real.

We loved it.

Lizzo is fantastic and amazing. A very energetic performer who is funny and entertaining, and Hella talented.

However the Palladium in Köln...Is a HORRIBLE venue. Don't even bother buying tickets to shows there, the sound is horrible and if you're average height, you'll probably end up staring at the back of some head and assuming the performer is actually on stage. For the glimpses I caught of Lizzo... She was as I stated above.

The show was pretty amazing! The opener, Brooke Candy, was 30 minutes late and only performed for 20 minutes. Her performance, even though short, was awesome! Lizzo was also late, about 20 minutes, but she performed the full hour. She had great back-up dancers, a cool "dj", and the whole concert was a celebration of self love. You leave feeling good about yourself and the world. Would definitely see her again if I got the chance!

Lizzo was amazing!! Her show was full of energy, was original and her vocals were unbelievable!

Lizzo has great communication and audience participation throughout her shows, she spoke about her experiences in Australia and seg water into her next song with ease! She was truely amazing! Her singing, dancing and stage presence was that of a super star! Move over Queen B, there’s a new queen in town!

Lizzo was unreal! Vocals, lighting, staging were all amazing! The venue however, was severely overcrowded which totally ruined the evening. Even towards the back of the room there was no space at all and as a group of 4 we were continually being pushed and shoved by surrounding people. I was really disappointed by the event because of this reason!

This concert was Sexy, Engaging, Exciting, and Empowering. The energy level was off the charts. Lizzo rocked the crowd like.,,, well Like a Boss Bytch!! Luved it! Even her opening act was Boss too. I can’t think of a better way to have started the weekend!

Posters (95)

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Lizzo And Latto Are Going On Tour, And It Sounds Iconic

Tickets go on sale this week.

These past few weeks have been an exciting time for Lizzo fans. The star dropped a new single, “About Damn Time”; announced her next album , Special ; pulled double duty on Saturday Night Live ; and joined Harry Styles on stage at Coachella . Now, Lizzo has revealed she’ll be embarking on a North American tour later this year.

The singer made the announcement in an April 25 Instagram post. “[Three] years since my last tour…and I’m finally coming back to YOU! So excited to announce the SPECIAL TOUR ‘22,” Lizzo wrote alongside a promo video. The clip featured a snippet of Lizzo’s unreleased song “Special,” which she performed for the first time on SNL on April 16.

“Special” shares the same name as Lizzo’s upcoming fifth studio album, which is set to arrive on July 15. Weeks after unveiling her record, Lizzo will kick off her North America tour in September. If you’re planning on buying tickets to see Lizzo live in concert, here’s what you should know about her tour.

Lizzo’s Special Tour Dates

Lizzo will begin the North American leg of her tour on Sept. 23 in Sunrise, Florida. She’ll perform around the United States and Canada before finishing her tour on Nov. 18 in Los Angeles. See the full dates below.

Lizzo’s Special Tour Ticket Info

Tickets for Lizzo’s tour will go on sale on April 29 at 10 a.m. local time. Those who are American Express card members can join a presale for Lizzo’s tour on April 26. Fans who aren’t card members can participate in the April 27 presale instead, as long as they pre-save Lizzo’s album on her website .

Lizzo’s Special Tour Setlist

Lizzo will likely keep her tour setlist a secret until her first show on Sept. 23; however, it’s safe to assume the setlist will include her biggest hits through the years, such as “Good as Hell,” “Juice,” and “About Damn Time.”

Lizzo’s Special Tour Opening Act

Lizzo revealed on IG her tour will feature the Atlanta-based rapper Latto whose single “Big Energy” is currently sitting in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

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2022 is definitely shaping up to be Lizzo’s year!

Lizzo Announces North American Headlining Tour in Support of ‘Special’

By Larisha Paul

Larisha Paul

Lizzo has announced dates for the North American leg of her “Special Tour” in support of her upcoming fourth studio album Special.

The flute-wielding rapper and singer will kick off the 25-date trek Sept. 23 at Sunrise, Florida’s FLA Live Arena. The run, which will feature special guest Latto as its opening act, will continue through Nov. 18 when it wraps at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California.

General on-sale for The Special Tour begins Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster .

Last weekend, Lizzo pulled double duty on Saturday Night Live , serving as both host and musical guest. During her performances, she delivered Special ‘s lead single “ About Damn Time ,” as well as the record’s vulnerable title track.

Special will arrive July 15 via Nice Life Recording Company/Atlantic. The album follows 2019’s Cuz I Love You , which featured “Juice,” “Truth Hurts,” “Good as Hell” and “Tempo” with Missy Elliott.

The Special Tour Dates Sept. 23 – Sunrise, FL @ FLA Live Arena Sept. 24 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena Sept. 27 – Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena Sept. 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center Sept. 30 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden Oct. 2 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Oct. 6 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena Oct. 7 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena Oct. 11 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center Oct. 14 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center Oct. 16 – Chicago, IL @ United Center Oct. 18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse Oct. 20 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center Oct. 22 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena Oct. 23 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena Oct. 25 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center Oct. 26 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center Oct. 28 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center Oct. 31 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena Nov. 2 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Arena Nov. 4 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center Nov. 7 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena Nov. 9 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena Nov. 12 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center Nov. 18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

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Lizzo Announces Second North American Leg of Her ‘Special’ Tour

The star is currently getting ready to close out her first leg with two shows in Los Angeles.

By Hannah Dailey

Hannah Dailey

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Lizzo is making North America feel doubly special. On Monday (Nov. 14), the three-time Grammy winner announced that she’s circling back through the United States and Canada next year for a second leg of her 2022 Special Tour , adding 17 new dates to her schedule.

Lizzo Can’t Handle the Joy in First Trailer for HBO Max Doc ‘Love, Lizzo’: ‘I’m Bouta Have a Panic…

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The “About Damn Time” singer-songwriter first toured through North America in support of her album Special this fall, embarking on a nearly 30-date trek beginning in September. In fact, that initial leg isn’t even over yet — Lizzo still has two more shows lined up for Nov. 18 and 19 at the Kia Forum.

After that, the Yitty founder will take a few months off before returning to the stage in February, when she’ll begin her run of shows in Europe.

Ticket sales for the second leg dates will begin Friday (Nov. 18) at 10 a.m. local time on Lizzo’s website . See the full list of newly announced North American shows below:

The Special 2our   2023

• April 21 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
• April 22 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
• April 25 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
• April 26 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum
• May 04 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
• May 06 – Hartford, CT – XL Center
• May 09 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
• May 10 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
• May 12 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
• May 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
• May 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
• May 17 – Chicago, IL – United Center
• May 19 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
• May 20 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
• May 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
• May 25 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
• June 02 – Palm Desert, CA – Acrisure Arena

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Breaking news, lizzo just added 19 shows to her “special tour.” some tickets are $25.

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It’s about damn time.

After an exhilarating first leg of her tour— including the now infamous flute controversy —  Lizzo is extending her trek and embarking on part two of her “Special Tour,” which she’s appropriately dubbed “The Special 2our” in 2023.

The run will take the three-time Grammy winner to 18 North American venues for 19 shows from March 15 through June 2.

Excitement for the tour is high too.

Rather than a typical muted announcement post, Lizzo tweeted , “SPECIAL 2OUR AINT OVER AND WE HIT THE JACKPOT CUS LATTO IS COMING W US!!”

Even better for fans, some tour tickets are going for as low as $25 before fees.

So, if you’re just as stoked for the Special 2our as Lizzo is, we’ve got everything you need to know below.

Lizzo 2022-23 tour schedule

Before the “Special 2our” kicks off, Lizzo is wrapping up the first leg of the “Special Tour” with major LA concerts as well as an appearance at New York City’s Jingle Ball on Dec. 9 alongside Dua Lipa, The Backstreet Boys and Charlie Puth.

A complete calendar featuring all upcoming Lizzo tour dates, venues, and lowest ticket prices can be found below.

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Lizzo support act

Lizzo’s got a partner in crime, and it is most definitely her good friend, 23-year-old Latto .

Here’s a quick refresher if you’re the rare Lizzo fanatic that isn’t familiar with Latto’s output.

Latto, aka Alyssa Michelle Stephens, broke into the mainstream with her 2020 single “Big Energy.” That year, she received a nomination for Best New Hip Hop Artist at the BET Hip Hop Awards but lost to Pop Smoke.

Since her breakthrough, she has spent her time opening for Lizzo on the first leg of the “Special Tour” and is now headed back for round two.

You can hear the catchy, NSFW “Big Energy” with a familar beat you may recognize from the ’80s and Mariah Carey hits below.

Lizzo setlist

While Lizzo obviously drops indisputable bangers “Good As Hell,” “Truth Hurts,” and “Juice” at every show, she also doesn’t play it completely safe.

As a true artist, Lizzo tweaks her setlists just slightly at every concert.

If you want to see what she’s played at recent gigs— including a cover of Lauryn Hill’s classic “Doo Wop (That Thing)”—  click here to get a better idea of the show you’ll be treated to on the “Special 2our.”

Other huge tours in 2023

We can’t wait for the ball to drop on 2022 and take us into 2023.

That’s because a ton of sweet concert tours featuring music’s biggest names will be hitting venues all over North America.

Here are just five of our favorite can’t-miss artists you have to see live next year.

•  Taylor Swift

•  Usher

•  Blink 182

•  Paramore

•  Ed Sheeran

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Lizzo Announces 2023 North American Tour Dates

By Matthew Strauss

Lizzo is wrapping up the first leg of her North American tour in support of Special . She’s now announced a number of 2023 concerts. The North American shows take place in April, May, and June and feature support from Latto. Check out Lizzo’s schedule below.

Read about Lizzo in “ The Best and Worst of the 2022 MTV VMAs ” on the Pitch.

All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

11-18 Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum ^ 11-19 Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum ^ 12-09 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (iHeartRadio Jingle Ball) 02-17 Oslo, Norway - Spektrum 02-18 Copenhagen, Denmark - Royal Arena 02-20 Hamburg, Germany - Barclays Arena 02-23 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome 02-24 Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis 02-27 Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena 02-28 Berlin, Germany - Mercedes-Benz Arena 03-02 Milan, Italy - Mediolanum Forum 03-03 Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion 03-05 Paris, France - Accor Arena 03-08 Glasgow, Scotland - OVO Hydro 03-09 Birmingham, England - Utilita Arena Birmingham 03-11 Manchester, England - AO Arena 03-13 Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena 03-15 London, England - The O2 03-16 London, England - The O2 04-21 Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena ^ 04-22 Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena ^ 04-25 St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center ^ 04-26 Memphis, TN - FedExForum ^ 05-04 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre ^ 05-06 Hartford, CT - XL Center ^ 05-09 Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena ^ 05-10 Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena ^ 05-12 Cleveland, OH - Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse ^ 05-13 Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena ^ 05-16 Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum ^ 05-17 Chicago, IL - United Center ^ 05-19 Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center ^ 05-20 Tulsa, OK - BOK Center ^ 05-24 Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center ^ 05-25 San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena ^ 06-02 Palm Desert, CA - Acrisure Arena ^

^ with Latto

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Everything We Know About Lizzo's New Album 'Special'

Ahead of the release of Lizzo's 'Special,' out July 15, here's a rundown of details about the much-anticipated new album.

Lizzo has become one of music's most infectious talents, creating hits that shed light on important topics like self-esteem and inclusivity all topped with a cheeky smile. So when the Houston-repping artist took three years away to craft her new album to perfection, her fans — the Lizzbians, as Lizzo declared herself in 2019 — knew the wait was going to be worth it.

In April, Lizzo announced the release of her fourth studio album and second major-label LP, Special , due July 15. The news came just two days before the singer made her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live , where she also performed lead single "About Damn Time" and the title track — both of which tease that Special is going to be full of her trademark empowering anthems.

Special follows 2019's GRAMMY-winning Cuz I Love You, which took home gramophones for Best Pop Solo Performance ("Truth Hurts"), Traditional R&B Performance ("Jerome"), and Best Urban Contemporary Album in 2020. 

The new album also comes at a booming time in Lizzo's career: her reality competition series Watch Out For The Big Grrrls premiered on Amazon Studios in March, the same month she released her shapewear brand Yitty.

Below, see all the goods GRAMMY.com gathered about Lizzo's highly anticipated new album, Special , thus far. 

The Album Is Titled Special , Arriving July 15

After initially teasing the album's completion during her keynote speaker session at SXSW, Lizzo officially announced Special on Instagram on April 14. The singer kept her caption brief — "SPECIAL. THE ALBUM. JULY 15." — letting the striking black and white portrait cover speak for itself.

She Narrowed Down The 12-Song Track List From 200

As Lizzo told  SiriusXM's The Heat , she wrote nearly 200 songs for the album, which she started recording in 2018. 

"I needed to go through life and get a lot of things off my chest," she said. "I had a lot happen interpersonally, a lot has happened globally and I think I needed to process that. The way that I process things is through writing music. So I was writing these songs, but then I just needed to keep going until I found my sweet spot and what the world needed to hear. 

"I also wanted to make a thorough album," she continued. "I didn't want to just make a bunch of singles or random songs that I thought were the coolest. I wanted to put a real body of work together so I can make a classic album because I just want to only make classics. I like my music and I want to continue to like my music."

Although the album's full track list has yet to be revealed, Special will include 12 tracks according to its pre-order page on Apple Music.

The Title Is An Intentional Confidence Booster

Since her 2013 debut album Lizzobangers , Lizzo has always intended to make people feel like they belong with her music — so it's no surprise that her latest album is called Special . In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, she revealed that a certain pop music mastermind informed the title's decision-making.

"The album was called In Case Nobody Told You for a while, and then Max Martin came on and he helped me change the hook a little bit and restructured it," she explained. "He was like, 'Special, Special. The song is Special.' I was like, 'Okay.' Then one day, I had this aha moment where I'm like, 'Oh sh-t, the album is Special . Literally, the album is special, and I'm special.'

"I want the person [who hears] this to feel special," she added. "Everything now has this special feel to it, and this glow, this sparkle. Ever since that's the era I'm moving into. It's out of the darkness and into the light."

Lizzo Brands It As A "Love Album"

The singer's discography is filled with themes of love, from recovering from heartbreak to finding self-love. And for Special , she's doubling down from 2019's Cuz I Love You and exploring all facets of love — as evidenced by the vanity of "About Damn Time" and "Special" as well as the best friend anthem "Grrrls." 

In February, Lizzo shared with Variety how "shocked" she was that this is an album all about love. While she played it coy on whether she's currently enamored with a special someone, she did allude to the music reflecting her personal relationships.

"I think that I will never be the kind of artist that's like this album is about a story I wrote; it's not real," Lizzo said. "I'm always just a very personal, like I'm-talking-to-my-friend-on- the-phone-with-really-good-music-behind-me b****. I will say this: It is a love album."

It's Filled With Nonstop Bangers

For Special , Lizzo will continue to provide the same electric feeling found in hits like "Good As Hell," "Juice" and "Truth Hurts." 

During an April interview with ET Canada , the singer shared that she switched up the album last minute in order to match the sparkling vibe of "About Damn Time." "I think I had an epiphany like, 'Oh I only want songs that are love frequency', like, very about love, and also bangers," she explained. "I wanted to make Lizzobangers again. So even if it's a ballad, it bangs. Every song is memorable and delicious and you want to hear it again and again and again."

She Teamed Up With Various Pop Music Virtuosos

Lizzo isn't a one-genre woman: she's dabbled in rap, pop, R&B, and disco — and on top of that, she plays the flute as expertly as a classical musician. For Special , she's gathered top producers and songwriters who are also known for blurring the genre lines. 

Lizzo reunited with Ricky Reed — the producer behind "Truth Hurts" — and songwriter/producer Blake Slatkin (who produced 24kGoldn 's "Mood" with iann dior and Kid LAROI 's "Stay" with Justin Bieber ) for her vibrant "About Damn Time" single. 

"She's just so herself, and I think she's unbelievably brave. She has stood up for a lot of things that she believes in in the past, and I always respect any artist that does that," Slatkin shared with Billboard in June. "She lets people into her life — I think the world feels like they're friends with her. She gives you the feeling that you know her and can talk to her, and if you were with her in the room, you would be dancing to her songs together. I've always admired artists that give you that feeling."

As she shared with Zane Lowe, Lizzo also got in the studio with Max Martin for the title track; additionally, she revealed to Australia's Cool Accidents that she collaborated with Mark Ronson. 

In an interview with the Spout Podcast , Lizzo said she jokingly asked actor Chris Evans — whom she has playfully flirted with in her DMs — to play piano on the album after the Captain America star showed off his skills on social media, but that didn't come to fruition. And unfortunately for those who love Lizzo's friendship with Harry Styles , it's looking like the pop star won't make an appearance either. 

"That is so funny. The internet going to internet," she said in the same interview. "That's all I'll say about that."

Read More: 10 Artists Who Have Stood Up For Women In Music: Taylor Swift, Lizzo & More

The Album Will Continue Her Mission To Motivate

Along with allusions to her love life, the album will embrace self-love — a theme that is the core of not just Lizzo's music, but her mission as an entertainer as a whole. As someone who has received backhanded compliments for her curves and how she embraces her sexuality, Lizzo aims for fans to discover unapologetic confidence just like she has. 

"I had a lot of fear, and I had to do the work on myself, and this music is some of that work in turning that fear into love," Lizzo told Zane Lowe. "I hope that when people listen to this album, it makes their day just a little bit better, a little bit more filled with love."

Lizzo Is Taking The Album On The Road Very Soon

Lizzo's Special era is about to become even more, well, special. She'll embark on her very first headlining arena tour in North America — aptly titled the Special Tour — this fall. 

"3 years since my last tour… and I'm finally coming back to YOU!" she posted on social media on April 25. The trek kicks off Sept. 23 in Florida's FLA Live Arena and will feature rapper Latto as support. 

With an album and tour on the horizon, there's no doubt that 2022 will be nothing short of Special for Lizzo and her Lizzbians.

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Photo: Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty Images

Behind Leon Michels' Hits: From Working With The Carters & Aloe Blacc, To Creating Clairo's New Album

Multi-instrumentalist turned GRAMMY-nominated producer Leon Michels has had a hand in a wide range of pop and hip-hop music. Read on for the stories behind his smash hits with Norah Jones, Black Thought, Kalis Uchis, Aloe Blacc, and others.

A child of New York’s ultra-niche soul revival scene of the early 2000s, multi-instrumentalis turned producer Leon Michels has had an extensive reach into global pop music. As both producer and session man, Michels has worked with the Carters , Norah Jones , Black Thought , the Black Keys , Kalis Uchis , and Aloe Blacc — to name a few.

He has held to a specific creative vision for more than two decades, first through his heavily sampled El Michels Affair projects and a healthy schedule of releases through Truth & Soul records and later, Big Crown, the label he co-founded with DJ Danny Akalepse in 2016. He runs a studio in upstate New York called the Diamond Mine North, where he does most of his work since relocating from New York City in 2017. He has two GRAMMY nominations to his name, for Mary J. Blige ’s Good Morning Gorgeous and Lizzo ’s Special .

Trained originally on piano, he took up drums and eventually saxophone through the guidance of his high school music teacher, Miss Leonard. "[She] is actually the person I owe it all to. She started this jazz band when I was in fifth grade, and there's no drummer, so she asked me if I would learn drums," he tells GRAMMY.com. "I did that, and she would give me Duke Ellington cassettes, Sydney Bichet, Johnny Hodges . She would just feed me music."

Daptone Records co-founder Gabe Roth recruited and mentored Michels while he was still in high school, and the teenager soon became a regular touring member of what would become the Dap-Kings , backing singer Sharon Jones during an early run of success in the mid-2000s. " I joined Sharon Jones when it was the Soul Providers. We went on tour in Europe with them. Somehow my parents let me do it. I don't even understand. Gabe came over and sweet-talked them."

Michels left the group in 2006 after seven intense years, wanting to spend more time recording than enduring the grind of touring. His chosen timing caused him to miss out by mere "months" on the group’s recording sessions for Amy Winehouse ’s four-time GRAMMY winner Back To Black . Despite what appeared to be a major missed opportunity, he turned his focus to his group El Michels Affair after initial encouragement from the 2005 album Sounding Out The City , released on Truth & Soul, the label he had co-founded. 

Finding his inspiration in the intersections of soul and hip-hop, as a fully committed instrumentalist producer, he was able to develop an analog soundscape that quickly caught the ears of artists including Raekwon and other Wu-Tang Clan alumni, with whom he toured in 2008. This led to the follow-up album Enter The 37th Chamber in 2009. Samples from El Michels Affair, including those by Ghostface Killah , Jay-Z , Just Blaze, J. Cole , and Travis Scott quickly proliferated and opened doors. Via the Lee Fields album My World, Michels' work caught the attention of Dan Auerbach , with whom he and his longtime collaborator and bassist Nick Movshon toured from 2010 to 2012.

Producing the Aloe Blacc song "I Need A Dollar" in 2010 further enhanced his credentials and provided the financial stability to allow him to be true to his creative spirit, which he has done successfully over the last decade.

Leon Michels spoke to GRAMMY.com about some key career recordings, including his latest release with singer Clairo.

Clairo – "Sexy to Someone" ( Charm , 2024)

I met Clairo almost three years ago. I made a record with her that took three years to complete, which is actually one of the longest stretches I've ever spent on a record.

She’s made two records before this. Her first record, Immunity , came out when she was 19. It's a pop record, and it was very successful. But she's a total music nerd like me. She’s constantly scouring the Internet for music. The way people, especially young people, ingest music these days is just insane. She's got great taste.

Her first record was super successful. She made her second record, Sling , with Jack Antonoff , and it was an ambitious folk record, and a huge departure from her first record. I think it caught her audience off guard, but it was kind of a perfect move because now she can make whatever she wants. 

When she came to me, I was excited but slightly confused. What do I do? Because in those situations, you think, well , I need to facilitate a successful pop record , but she just wanted all the weird s—.

It’s this cool mix of pop elements, but some of the music sounds like a Madlib sample. All of it is steeped in pretty cool references and older music, but her perspective is a 25-year-old’s, and she’s an incredible songwriter. It's a really cool mix.

Norah Jones - "Running"  ( Visions , 2024)

Norah used to hit up me and Dave Guy , trumpet player in the Menahan Street Band and the Roots , if she needed horns.

As we were coming out of the pandemic, she hit me up and wanted to make some music. We made a few songs and then after that, she asked me to produce her Christmas record, which was super fun because I've never listened to Christmas music. I started to enjoy it, which was weird because I had thought I hated Christmas music. I mean, once you start to dig for Christmas records, pretty much all of your favorite artists have them. I was listening to Christmas music from March to October the entire year. 

After that, we made Visions , which is all original stuff. Norah's just so talented. Her musicianship is actually some of the most impressive I've ever seen or worked with. She's so good that when I play with her, I get intimidated and I forget basic harmony and music theory!

Read more: 5 Inspirations Behind Norah Jones' New Album 'Visions': Nightly Dreams, Collabs, Harmony Stacks & More

We cut that record,  mostly just the two of us. There's a couple of songs where we got a band, but most of it was in my upstate studio. She would just come over from nine to three. She would come after she dropped her kids at school and then have to leave to pick them up. It was super fun to make, essentially just jamming all day.

[Overall] it’s not a huge departure for Norah, but sonically it is a departure, and it's got this very loose, "un-precious" quality. That's maybe a little different from her other stuff.

"Running" was her choice as a single. When it comes to singles — the songs that have actually been most successful — I've wanted to take those off the record. I have no idea what's going to be the hit or not.

Black Thought - "Glorious Game" ( Glorious Game , 2023)

That was a total pandemic record — at the start of the pandemic when everyone was completely locked in, we had no idea what was going on.

Black Thought texted me out of the blue, and I think he was just trying to stay busy. So he just said, "Can you send me songs?" I sent him maybe two songs and then he sent back finished verses three or four hours later. Most of that record was just me sending him s— and him sending it back, and then going like that. We had probably 20 songs. 

The time I did spend in the studio with him was, he's a total savant. He sits there while you're playing a song, and it kind of looks like he's on Instagram or f—ing around, you know what I mean? Does this guy even like this song? And then 45 minutes later, he’ll be like "Aight, ready." And he goes in there and, and he'll rap four pages of lyrics in one take. It's insane. He remembers everything;  we'll do a song and then three years later, he'll have to redo it, but he'll know the lyrics from memory.

There's a couple of things that I figured out on that record. One: The thing I love about sampled hip-hop production the most is it's almost always pitch-shifted, which makes a giant difference in the sound. And if the piano has decay or vocals have vibrato, when you pitch it up, it becomes something that is so uniquely hip-hop. The second thing was, with hip hop, one of the best parts about sampling is the choices a producer has to make when they are limited to chopping a two-track mix.  If you have multi-tracks, there are too many options. 

I think that record resonated with people who are hip-hop aficionados who really love the art of emceeing. 

Aloe Blacc - "I Need A Dollar" ( Good Things , 2010)

We had just recorded the Lee Fields record, My World . Eothen Alapatt, who used to be a label manager at Now Again, was a friend of mine. [Jeff Silverman and I] started Truth & Soul, but we had no infrastructure. We thought My World would have a bigger reach if Stones Throw took care of the press and distribution. And so Eothen said "Yeah, we can do that, but instead of paying us, just make a record with this artist we have, Aloe Blacc."

I had no idea who he was. And so that was the business deal. We didn't get paid for the record initially. The payment was that they were going to promote Lee Fields record for us. So [Aloe] came to New York, and I did it with my partner at the time, Jeff Silverman, also Nick Movshon, who played on the entire record.

He wanted to do this Bill Withers thing. "I Need A Dollar" was probably my least favorite song on the record. I think I have this aversion to anything that's slightly cheesy, but I've gotten better at it. But at the end of the day, it's just a good song. It got picked up as the theme song to an HBO pilot called "How To Make It In America." And then, it just blew up in Europe. It was No. 1 everywhere. But it never hit in America.

It kind of set me off on a weird path for a minute, because I got a taste of success. And made some poor career decisions. I tried to a do lot of songwriting sessions with strangers.  It was maybe four years until I decided to just make El Michels Records.  

The Carters - "SUMMER" ( EVERYTHING IS LOVE , 2018)

At the time, I was making these sample packs and sending them out to producers. One of them was this slow jam, and so the producers called me up and said "We used one of your samples. It's for a giant artist. We can't tell you who it is. You have to approve it now. And you can't hear it, but it's going to change your life." That’s what they kept saying to me. Then they said "It's coming out in two weeks."

So I figured they used one of my samples and chopped it up and did their thing to it.  And so when the record came out, it was Beyoncé and Jay-Z. It was the first track on that record they did together, the Carters. And it was mostly just my original sample with some new bass and string section. So basically it was just Beyoncé and Jay-Z over an El Michael's Affair track. The track was called "Summer," and my original never came out. 

So just hearing Beyoncé, hearing these giant pop voices that I associate with absolute hits, over my song, that was pretty cool.

Liam Bailey - "Dance With Me" ( Zero Grace , 2023)

Me and him just have a very crazy chemistry when it comes to music, because it all happens super fast and with very little thought. Sometimes I'll listen to Liam's stuff, and I actually don't know how we did it. That is actually the goal. That’s why Lee "Scratch Perry" is the greatest producer of all time, because he could access that instant input, instant output type of creativity. It just passes through him and then it's on the record. Making music with Liam is like that; I'll make some instrumental, or I'll have an idea and then he'll freestyle lyrics one or two times.

To me, it sounds gibberish, but then he'll go through it and change one or two words and all of a sudden has this crazy narrative, and it's about his childhood [for example]. When I’ve worked with him, he has this same process where it's just kind of "hand to God" s—, just let it happen. I was trying to make something the way Jamaicans did, [like] that brand of Jamaican soul from the mid-'60s. 

Brainstory - "Peach Optimo" ( Sounds Good , 2024)

I met those guys through Eduardo Arenas, who's the bass player from Chicano Batman , and he had recorded a couple of demos from them. And they had one song in particular that really caught my attention, which made it onto their first record called "Dead End."

They’re three jazz kids. Their dad was a gospel singer and loved soul and Stevie Wonder . So they grew up on all that stuff as well. Producing a band like Brainstory is super easy, because they rehearse all the time. Most of their songs are written; all I have to do is maybe shuffle around sections or just essentially cut stuff out. Because a lot of times when bands write music and rehearse every day, they just love to play, so sections are endless. 

I'll…have a sound in mind for the record, some reference for me and the engineering hands to kind of work from. And in the case of Sounds Good , the reference for the whole sound of the record was that this is Gene Harris song called "Los Alamitos Latin Funk Love." This is kind of the vibe of the entire record. We just cut that record over the course of a year, but it was two sessions that were maybe six days each. 

Kevin is the main vocalist and he's amazing. He can do that sweet soul background stuff perfectly. And when he does [his own] background vocals, it's this thing that not a lot of people can do where he changes his personality. So he becomes three different people. Then the background sounds like an actual group. 

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Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

GRAMMY Rewind: Lizzo Thanks Prince For His Influence After "About Damn Time" Wins Record Of The Year In 2023

Watch Lizzo describe how Prince’s empowering sound led her to “dedicate my life to positive music” during her Record Of The Year acceptance speech for “About Damn Time” at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

Since the start of her career, four-time GRAMMY winner Lizzo has been making music that radiates positive energy. Her Record Of The Year win for "About Damn Time" at the 2023 GRAMMYs proved that being true to yourself and kind to one another always wins.

Travel back to revisit the moment Lizzo won her award in the coveted category in this episode of GRAMMY Rewind. 

"Um, huh?" Lizzo exclaimed at the start of her acceptance speech. "Let me tell you something. Me and Adele are having a good time, just enjoying ourselves and rooting for our friends. So, this is an amazing night. This is so unexpected."

Lizzo kicked off her GRAMMY acceptance speech by acknowledging Prince 's influence on her sound. "When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music," she said. "This was at a time when positive music and feel-good music wasn't mainstream at that point and I felt very misunderstood. I felt on the outside looking in. But I stayed true to myself because I wanted to make the world a better place so I had to be that change."

As tracks like "Good as Hell" and "Truth Hurts" scaled the charts, she noticed more body positivity and self-love anthems from other artists. "I'm just so proud to be a part of it," she cheered.

Most importantly, Lizzo credited staying true to herself despite the pushback for her win. "I promise that you will attract people in your life who believe in you and support you," she said in front of a tearful audience that included Beyoncé and Taylor Swift in standing ovation, before giving a shout-out to her team, family, partner and producers on the record, Blake Slatkin and Ricky Reed . 

Watch the video above for Lizzo's complete acceptance speech for Record Of The Year at the 2023 GRAMMYs. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and be sure to tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8-11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

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Photo: John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

New Year's Songs: 16 Tracks To Give You A Fresh Start In 2024, From The Beatles To Taylor Swift

Whether you're looking to vibe with J Balvin or roar with Katy Perry, let these tracks welcome you to a prosperous and hopeful new year.

The beginning of a new year often results in moments of reflection as well as anticipation about what lies ahead. And with the myriad of feelings that ensue upon New Year's Eve, music serves as a powerful source for both introspection and inspiration.

There are countless songs that give listeners a chance to reflect and resonate with the possibilities of what's yet to come. Whether it's the pulsingly hopeful beat of Jamie xx's "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)," the inspiring narrative of The Notorious B.I.G 's "Juicy," or Elton John's pumped-up "I'm Still Standing," a good soundtrack is the perfect catalyst for starting a new year on the right note.

As you envision what the coming year has in store, enjoy this playlist from GRAMMY.com — curated not just to celebrate the moment the clock strikes 12, but to infuse the coming year with inspiration and cheer.

79.5 — "B.D.F.Q"

Inspired by singer Kate Mattison's experiences in Detroit, 79,5's "B.D.F.Q." is about perseverance in the face of a music industry marred by misogyny. Short for "B—, Don't F—ing Quit," "B.D.F.Q." amplifies a mood of independence and strength with the declaration, "They! Don't mean a thing/ Don't mean a thing, just do your thing!" While the message is timeless, "B.D.F.Q." will certainly amp you up for any challenges the new year presents.

The Beatles — "Here Comes The Sun"

Whether you spin the 1969 original or the reinvigorated 2019 mix, the Beatles ' "Here Comes The Sun,"  remains a classic symbol of continuation and hope. A track from the Fab Four's iconic Abbey Road album, this George Harrison composition is celebrated for its uplifting melody and serene lyrics that playfully describe a new dawn and brighter days ahead.

Elton John — "I'm Still Standing"

Elton John delivered an upbeat ode to durability and the ability to bounce back with "I'm Still Standing," a 1983 track that resonates 40 years on. Between its catchy melody and John's energetic performance (particularly in the beach-set music video), the song conveys a triumphant message about overcoming challenges and emerging stronger.

"Hamilton" — "My Shot"

Of the many dynamic numbers in Lin-Manuel Miranda 's renowned musical "Hamilton," "My Shot" is arguably the most inspirational and universal. A powerfully charged manifesto that embodies ambition and determination — delivered with an electrifying blend of hip-hop and theatrical flair — "My Shot" celebrates seizing opportunities and making a mark. It's a welcome New Year's song choice for those compelled to channel their inner strength and embrace new challenges in the year ahead.

J Balvin — "6 AM" feat. Farruko

This vibrant reggaeton track from J Balvin 's 2013 album La Familia encapsulates the spirit of spontaneity. Its infectious beat and catchy lyrics manifest as a celebration of lively nights and the adventures that unfold in the early after hours — hence, the 6 a.m. title. This one's for the night owls, who may see the sun rise at the turn of the new year.

Jamie xx — "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" feat. Young Thug, Popcaan

"I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" by Jamie xx is as upbeat and optimistic as hip-hop tracks come. Featuring Young Thug and Popcaan , the 2015 track melds elements of dance and reggae for an infectious ode to good times ahead — an enduring NYE sentiment.

Jimmy Chamberlin Complex — "Life Begins Again"

The title track of their 2005 album, "Life Begins Again"  is an intricate and evocative composition that blends elements of jazz and rock with a bit of emo sentiment. The track showcases Jimmy Chamberlin 's exceptional drumming prowess while promising that life is cyclical — every day can be the first of your life with the right attitude.

John Lennon — "Just Like Starting Over"

With themes of rekindling love and starting anew, John Lennon 's "[Just Like] Starting Over" is a fitting tribute to fresh starts and the enduring power of renewal in all aspects of life. And as the final single released while he was alive, it's a bittersweet testament to Lennon's enduring legacy.

Katy Perry — "Roar"

Katy Perry' s "Roar," from her 2013 album Prism , is a proud declaration of self-empowerment and finding one's voice. An electrifying track with a booming chorus and spirited lyrics, it embodies the journey from silence to strength. Its message of embracing one's true self and speaking out makes it an inspiring celebration of new beginnings.

Lisa LeBlanc — "Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui"

For those looking to give themselves a little break as the new year begins, Lisa LeBlanc's "Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui" may be the song for you. A single from her 2021 album Chiac Disco, the energetic, disco-inspired French language track features playful lyrics about procrastination, with its titular line asking, "Why do today what you could do tomorrow?" — starting the year off in laid-back fashion. If tu ne parles pas Français , LeBlanc's catchy dance beats are fuel for a joyful New Year's Eve atmosphere.

Lizzo — "Good As Hell"

Like many of Lizzo 's songs, "Good as Hell" captures a vibrant, empowering spirit. It celebrates self-care and resilience in the face of adversity, blending a lively rhythm with Lizzo's dynamic vocals. Its uplifting lyrics and infectious energy encourage a sense of confidence and self-appreciation — a powerful anthem of positivity any time of the year.

Nina Simone — "Feeling Good"

A timeless classic first made famous by Nina Simone , "Feeling Good" is a powerful anthem of rejuvenation and hope. Simone's jazz-infused rendition was released in 1965; its resolute delivery captures a spirit of personal transformation and empowerment, offering an enduring sentiment going into the new year: "It's a new dawn/ It's a new day/ It's a new life for me, ooh/ And I'm feeling good."

Notorious B.I.G. — "Juicy"

Although The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy" is a personal account of the late rapper's rise to the top, the song encapsulates a spirit of triumph that can inspire anyone with a dream. From its bouncy beat to the iconic "If you don't know, now you know" hook, "Juicy" will have you reaching for the stars.

Otis Redding & Carla Thomas — "New Year's Resolution"

Memphis legends Otis Redding and Carla Thomas ' aptly titled 1967 album King & Queen is notable for being the final studio release before Redding passed away that December. The album also spawned a NYE classic: "New Year's Resolution." With lyrics that explore the concept of ​​making resolutions and embracing change in the new year. While the song lacks Redding's trademark soulful wail, "New Year's Resolution" is temperate and contemplative — a reprieve from the let-it-all-out powerful Stax sound to ease your way into the new year.

Peter Cat Recording Co. — "Portrait of a Time"

Both modern and nostalgic, Peter Cat Recording Co.'s "Portrait of a Time" blends jazz, and indie rock for an eclectic and nostalgic, introspective jam. The song carries a reflective mood of contemplation and transition, with lyrics that encourage leaving "confusion and darkening clouds" in the past and hopping in the Lamborghini of life for a new wild ride.

Taylor Swift — "New Year's Day"

After all of the bold, empowered statements on Taylor Swift' s 2017 album reputation , she closes the LP with a tender, piano-driven ballad that captures the quiet intimacy and hopeful sentiments of a new year. Aptly titled "New Year's Day," the song's reflective and heartfelt lyrics contemplate love and loyalty found in life's fleeting moments. Swift's delicate vocal delivery and the track's gentle melody evoke a sense of warmth and enduring connection, making it a poignant choice to embrace the new year with a sense of closeness.

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Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016

Upon winning the GRAMMY for Best Rap Album for 'To Pimp a Butterfly,' Kendrick Lamar thanked those that helped him get to the stage, and the artists that blazed the trail for him.

Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.

A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.

This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly . Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system. 

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."

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He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.

"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly .

"Hip-hop. Ice Cube . This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg , Doggystyle . This is for Illmatic , this is for Nas . We will live forever. Believe that."

To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal , Anna Wise and Thundercat ). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift 's "Bad Blood." 

Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN ., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers .

Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes. 

10 Essential Facts To Know About GRAMMY-Winning Rapper J. Cole

• 1 Everything We Know About Lizzo's New Album 'Special'
• 2 Behind Leon Michels' Hits: From Working With The Carters & Aloe Blacc, To Creating Clairo's New Album
• 3 GRAMMY Rewind: Lizzo Thanks Prince For His Influence After "About Damn Time" Wins Record Of The Year In 2023
• 4 New Year's Songs: 16 Tracks To Give You A Fresh Start In 2024, From The Beatles To Taylor Swift
• 5 GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016

'Lizzo: Live in Concert' lets fans enjoy the pop star's latest tour at home — here's how to stream it

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• "Lizzo: Live in Concert" showcases the award-winning artist performing on stage during her "Special" tour. 
• The show also includes special guests like Cardi B, SZA, and Missy Elliot.
• The concert starts streaming exclusively on HBO Max ($10/month) on December 31.

Not only can you listen to Lizzo's catchy bops at home, but starting December 31, you can watch her latest tour from the comfort of your own couch. "Lizzo: Live in Concert" is a new music special set to stream exclusively on HBO Max . 

The show aims to give fans front-row seats to Lizzo's "Special" tour, which began in September 2022. In addition to the superstar herself, the concert film also features special guests like Cardi B, SZA, and Missy Elliot. It promises to be a show full of positivity, killer performances, flute riffs, and of course, contagious pop songs performed live. 

Check out the trailer for 'Lizzo: Live in Concert'

"Lizzo: Live in Concert" was filmed in November 2022 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA. The show is directed by Sam Wrench and produced by Kevin Beisler and Done+Dusted. Lizzo also serves as an executive producer via her production company Lizzobangers.

How to watch 'Lizzo: Live in Concert'

You can watch "Lizzo: Live in Concert" on HBO Max starting December 31. The concert is a Max original, so it won't be available to stream on other services. 

If you're not a subscriber yet, HBO Max costs $10 a month with ads, or $15 a month without ads. The ad-free plan also offers 4K streaming on select titles and download support. 

The HBO Max app is available on most connected devices, including streaming players, smart TVs, phones, tablets, and gaming consoles from major brands. You can also access the service through web browsers on PCs, Macs, and laptops.

Can I watch 'Lizzo: Live in Concert' for free?

Though HBO Max doesn't offer a free trial directly, you can watch "Lizzo: Live in Concert" for free if you sign up for HBO Max through Prime Video. Amazon Prime subscribers can lock in a free seven-day trial of HBO Max by adding it as an extra channel to their Prime Video service.

You can cancel at any time in order to avoid the recurring monthly fees. Only new HBO Max members are eligible for the free trial.

What other concerts can I stream on HBO Max?

HBO Max is home to a handful of concerts from artists across a variety of genres. Some other notable concerts you can stream right now include:

• "Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour"
• "Santana - Corazon, Live from Mexico: Live It to Believe It"
• "Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same"
• "Jimi Plays Monterey"
• "Romeo Santos: The King Stays King — Live at Madison Square Garden"
• "Natti Natasha"

Subscribers can also find specials and documentaries focused on musical artists like Carrie Underwood, the Bee Gees, George Harrison, and Linda Ronstadt. 

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Lizzo Will Kick Off the Special Tour in South Florida This Fall

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What Is Lizzo’s Setlist Of Songs For ‘The Special Tour?’

This past weekend, Lizzo kicked off The Special Tour and so far, she has a couple of concerts under her belt, with a third one coming tonight (September 27) at Washington, DC’s Capital One Arena. It’s a relatively small sample size at the moment when it comes to setlists, but there’s still enough information to go off of to answer the question: What songs has Lizzo been performing on her 2022 tour?

Setlist.fm, the most comprehensive resource for concert setlists available online, has the answer. According to their data , both concerts had the same setlist, perhaps an indication that it will stay pretty much that way throughout the tour. The shows opened with “The Sign” and “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” before closing with a two-song encore of “Juice” and “About Damn Time.”

As for album-by-album representation, Special is on top when it comes to songs from the album performed during the show, followed by Cuz I Love You and Coconut Oil . At both concerts, she has also covered Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.”

Check out the setlist from Lizzo’s tour so far below.

1. “The Sign” 2. “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” 3. “Soulmate” 4. “Grrrls” 5. “Boys” 6. “Tempo” 7. “Rumors” 8. “Scuse Me” 9. “Naked” 10. “Jerome” 11. “Break Up Twice” 12. “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (Lauryn Hill cover) 13. “Special” 14. “I’m Every Woman” (Chaka Khan cover) 15. “Like A Girl” 16. “Birthday Girl/Happy Birthday” 17. “Everybody’s Gay” 18. “Water Me” 19. “Cuz I Love You” 20. “If You Love Me” 21. “Coldplay” 22. “Truth Hurts” 23. “I Love You B*tch” 24. “Good As Hell” 25. “Juice” (encore) 26. “About Damn Time” (encore)

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. .

Lizzo on "The Special Tour" Outfits, Creativity, and Wardrobe Malfunctions

By Aiyana Ishmael

It is so easy to love Lizzo. Whether she's on or off the stage, the Grammy-award-winning artist continues to show us why she's a force to be reckoned with in music, fashion, and beyond — and even sometimes in the intersection of it all. Case in point: Her The Special Tour . 

For all of her performances while on tour, Lizzo wore dazzling full-body catsuits designed in partnership with  Yitty 's head designer Kara Lacayo and hand-stoned by crystal artist Disco Daddy. The catsuits feature materials and colors which are part of the in-line Yitty collection. Yitty,  launched in early 2022 , is the artist's brand focused on bringing life to the shapewear industry. Since its inception, Yitty has focused on bright colors, patterns, and size-inclusive options.  

Lizzo  and her team crafted the suits for her tour, focusing on support and comfort. And when you're putting on a dance-heavy performance the way Lizzo is, you'd need to make sure your costumes are up for the job. Teen Vogue caught up with Lizzo to chat about fashion, her favorite tour looks, and what her HBO documentary following her life and career has meant to her.

Teen Vogue : I watched your documentary over Thanksgiving break with my family and I loved how your performances are all created in your mind! Is it a similar process for the outfits you wanted to wear on tour or what was that process for you?  

Lizzo:  That's the most difficult for me to see. In almost every other area of my career, I have a vision for every single thing, down to an edit of a television show or an award show performance. And for some odd reason, [for] my stage looks, I draw a blank. My thing is all about references — iconic references — and stuff. So I'm just like, "What do I feel like showing?" A few years ago, when I first started wearing the dance leotards and stuff on stage back in 2014, my reference was Beyoncé. I'm like, "Oh, she's so iconic." And I'm a dancer now. So dancers do the leotards. But I think, lately, I've been trying to find new silhouettes for the stage, which is hard to do because we are still dancers. I think this time, I was really lucky to have Yitty. [Kara] helped me come up with that really cool, iconic, bedazzled bodysuit.

TV : Were there any key factors for you when figuring out how the leotards and designs needed to fit on your body because of all the choreography and movement you guys were doing?

Lizzo: There's a lot of thought that goes into the design and the fit. Making sure things are cheekier for when we do our little butt shakes and making sure things are durable so when we lift our arms up, it's stretchy and all of that. There's a lot of thought that goes into that part.

TV : Do you have any tour fashion faux pas?  

Lizzo: There are a few things where I'm like, "Never again." For sure. I don't like to wear too much jewelry, because I know if I'm dancing, it'll fly, so never too much. Also, I went through a period where I was wearing heels on stage, never again, completely fucked up my knees. It's not worth it. I can do this shit in boots. You know what I mean?

TV : What was your favorite look on tour?

Lizzo: I still have to say my Yitty one-piece bodysuit that was hand-crystalled with the Yitty tattoo on the ass. It was perfect. I wish I was wearing that right now!

TV : Did you ever have a wardrobe malfunction while on tour? How did it happen and were there any on the fly decisions in updating the costumes?  

Lizzo: We've definitely had some wardrobe malfunctions. I don't even know if I should mention one of them! People might even be able to see it because my leotard on the last night of the tour for “Special,” when I changed into the bedazzled bodysuit, it completely popped open. So they had to tie it up, literally sew it on my body. I don't even know why that happened. I didn't even do anything for it to pop open. I think maybe I was hugging people or something, but it was just wild. So I did the rest of the show that way with it popped. Thank goodness my hair was long because it kind of covered it.

TV : I know just from what I've seen, you're always killing it fashion-wise. I don't know if that's something you've always been interested in, but what does fashion mean to you? Especially in regards to your career?  

Lizzo: Fashion is an extension, for sure, of my creativity. And I think that I like having fun, but I also like being a canvas for people. And I think the more I've allowed people to just be artists — like my glam team and creative team—, allow them to be artists and me [to] just be the canvas on which they can express themselves, I think the more fashionable I've become by allowing other people to do what they do best. So I think it means a lot to me in that regard because I love being a part of making people's dreams come true or watching their dreams come true. And we've had a lot of milestones within my creative and glam team in the last year and a half alone.

TV : What has been your favorite response so far from people that have watched your documentary?

Lizzo: I don't think I necessarily have a favorite response, but I was floored by how many people were actually loving it. Genuinely. I've probably lost a lot of followers on Twitter from my retweet sprees where I'm just sitting and reading and retweeting from everything under the hashtag #LoveLizzo, because I'm really appreciative. This is my life story. This is more personal than a song, more personal than Yitty, like a piece of clothing. More personal than anything I could put out there, more personal than a regular television show. This is my life. I have loved everyone's response. Getting sweet messages from my friends and peers, and Adele shouting me out on stage was really awesome. It makes me happy because this isn't just a piece of fiction, it's the art of my life. So it means a lot.

Want more like this from Teen Vogue ? Check these stories out:

• Lizzo Became the Grinch With Green Hair, a Striped Bodysuit, and a Corset
• Lizzo Went Bronde With Stunning Honey Highlights
• Lizzo Is Making a Case for Yitty Leggings With Butt Cut-Outs

By Alyssa Hardy

By Sara Delgado

By Brittney McNamara

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Lizzo Reacts To ‘South Park’ Joke Referencing Her As Ozempic Alternative: “I Really Showed The World How To Love Yourself”

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Lizzo is reacting to South Park ‘s reference to her in their special episode about weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.

The body positivity singer took to social media to blindly react to the special titled South Park: The End of Obesity , sharing her thoughts on being mentioned by the long-running animated series.

“Guys, my worst fear has been actualized. I’ve been referenced in a South Park episode. I’m so scared,” she said in a video posted on Instagram .

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“FDA-approved Lizzo makes you feel good about your weight, and it costs 90% less than Ozempic. … In case studies, 70% of patients on Lizzo no longer cared how much they weighed,” the voiceover in the fake commercial for the drug said on the show. “Lizzo helps you eat everything you want and keep physical activity to a minimum.”

Following the parody, Lizzo said, “That’s crazy. I just feel like, damn, I’m really that bitch. I really showed the world how to love yourself and not give a f*** to the point where these men in Colorado know who the f*** I am and put it on their cartoon that’s been around for 25 years. I’m really that bitch and I show you how to not give a f*** and I’ll keep showing you how to not give a f***.”

Watch Lizzo’s full reaction in the video below.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating)

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A growing number of Swifties are calling on Taylor Swift to break her silence on Gaza

Ahead of the Madrid leg of Taylor Swift’s globe-trotting Eras Tour, some fans had their minds on more than just her set.

In the hours before her Wednesday concert, the hashtag #SwiftiesForPalestine was among the top trends on X, easily besting the hashtag for that evening’s show. Many posts called on concert attendees to take signs to or fly Palestinian flags at the event, hoping they’d catch Swift’s attention and encourage her to speak out.  

The hashtag continued to spread Thursday morning with more than 133,000 posts, according to X’s trending page, many of them coming from fan accounts that have posted about Swift for years.

It’s a sentiment that has been building for a while around many celebrities and Swift in particular, with her sizable and vocal fan base, which, when mobilized, can be a formidable political force . In recent days, the scattered activism has boiled over into more palpable outrage — largely driven by Israel’s military offensive in Rafah and an airstrike this month that set a refugee camp aflame, with graphic pictures of the aftermath spreading online . The Israel Defense Forces has said that it was targeting two senior Hamas militants and that tent shelters were not in the immediate vicinity. 

“Seeing all these devastating images and videos from Rafah has awoken something in all of us, and we would love Taylor’s support. A lot of people with influence are speaking out, and we see the effects this has,” said Sarah Smits, a Swiftie from Belgium who runs a fan account with more than 56,000 followers on X. 

The conflict has been ongoing for more than six months, and Israel has said it will continue to fight to free roughly 125 people Hamas is believed to still hold captive in Gaza. 

Swift, arguably the most famous and popular person in the U.S. , has not made any comments about Israel or Gaza since the conflict began. And while she has at times weighed in on U.S. politics (most notably on abortion rights and legislation that has targeted the LGBTQ community ), she has also faced scrutiny from her fans over her silence on various issues. Other fans, however, have expressed concern that voicing a stance on contentious global political issues could compromise her safety on an international tour.

Smits, who said she watches every Eras Tour livestream and has spotted Palestinian flags in the audience, plans to take her own pro-Palestinian friendship bracelets when she attends one of Swift’s July shows in Amsterdam.

“The impact Taylor Swift would have would be enormous, and so her silence is frustrating,” she said.

The push comes alongside a wider social media movement that has refocused attention on Israel’s push into Rafah, a city Israel had once designated as a safe zone . On Instagram, a particularly viral image that appeared to have been generated by artificial intelligence showed refugee tents that spelled out “All Eyes on Rafah.” Some Swifties seized on the image, which was criticized in its own right for drowning out real images from the ground in Rafah, after Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, who have produced much of Swift’s music, both reshared it on Instagram this week.

Many Swifties also noted that Paramore, the band that is opening for Swift during the European leg of the Eras Tour, shared a statement on its Instagram story Wednesday spotlighting Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders, nongovernmental organizations providing humanitarian aid in Gaza.

A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As part of their push, some people on X resurfaced a clip of remarks Swift made in her 2020 Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” in which she expressed regret over not having spoken out against Donald Trump during the 2016 election. 

“I need to be on the right side of history,” she tells her family and public relations staff.

Swift faced some backlash after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel over a film of a concert she performed earlier in the year played in Jerusalem , as concerns were growing about the conflict and its humanitarian consequences in Gaza. 

Now, more Pro-Palestinian sentiment has surfaced at some of her recent shows. Photos of concertgoers with Palestinian flags or holding up bedazzled, Swift-themed pro-Palestinian posters circulated across social media this week as Swifties online encouraged one another — especially those who have scored front-row Eras Tour seats — to display them at her shows in hope she would take notice.

Many also urged attendees to make and trade Swift-themed friendship bracelets (an activity that has become customary at her shows) that incorporate pro-Palestinian messaging and to tag social media posts from the show with #SwiftiesForPalestine.

Swift was also named on several of the #Blockout2024 and “digital guillotine” lists circulating this month as social media users organized a controversial campaign to block hundreds of celebrities and influencers who have not been vocal about Gaza. Some stars on the block lists, such as rapper Lizzo and influencer Chris Olsen, posted their first public videos about Gaza after the campaign began.

The pressure on her Swift appears to be propelled, at least in part, by the understanding that she now commands an audience that can quickly spring into action. In an open letter to Swift shared online Wednesday, a fan account wrote that even the “smallest action” from her could inspire her massive fan base to “raise support for immediate humanitarian help” for Palestinians.

“The international community, including many influential voices, has called for justice and peace, yet the agony still continues,” the letter read. “Your influence transcends borders, and your words have the power to reach and activate an extensive audience, including people who are unaware of the severity of the genocide.”

Canadian Swiftie Mélina Loyer, who has been heavily involved in #SwiftiesForPalestine online, said the growing pro-Palestinian support from other big names in entertainment makes Swift’s lack of a public stance stand out even more.

“I think Swifties have officially had enough of Taylor’s silence because of big celebrities like Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa recently talking about their support for Palestine,” Loyer said, adding, “We think she no longer has an excuse to remain silent considering her big audience and the impact she has.”

Angela Yang is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News.

Jennifer Lopez Cancels Summer Tour

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Jennifer Lopez  has canceled her ‘ This Is Me… Live’ summer tour to spend more time with her family and is “heartsick” over the decision, the singer announced to fans in her newsletter Friday.

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The news does not come as a total surprise, as the tour has been beset with reports of poor ticket sales and many unsold seats on ticketing websites.

Various media reports said that the need for family time was necessary amid reports that she and husband Ben Affleck are splitting; reps for the singer did not comment on the reports.

Sources close to Lopez insisted that the tour was not being canceled due to poor ticket sales, despite the reports and seating charts, and pointed to strong sales in such markets as Newark, Orlando, Miami, Chicago, Anaheim and Toronto. However, seating charts for multiple other dates showed very poor sales.

Lopez initially announced the trek in February to coincide with the release of her latest album “This Is Me… Now” and its accompanying two films, which celebrated her reunion with Affleck. But she quietly canceled some of its dates last month in cities like Cleveland and Nashville, likely due to poor sales. The rebrand suggested a pivot from a tour focusing on the new album’s songs to one spanning her discography, a move that was presumably intended to entice listeners who didn’t connect with her latest material.

Variety will have more on the news as information becomes available.

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