SZA has added another major honor to her résumé, and this one hits especially close to home.
The Grammy-winning singer was officially inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 24. The ceremony took place at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey. SZA was recognized in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category. Actor and fellow New Jersey Hall of Famer Danny DeVito hosted the ceremony.
Although SZA was born in St. Louis, the singer was raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. She also attended Columbia High School. The Garden State played a major role in shaping her identity before she became an international star.
“I just want to say, I love Jersey, every corner of Jersey,” SZA told the crowd during her acceptance speech.
The singer also gave a special shoutout to her home county.
“I love my county. Shout out to Essex County,” she said.
SZA Reflects On Her New Jersey Roots
SZA, whose full name is Solána Imani Rowe, reflected on several places connected to her upbringing. She recalled attending Maplewood Middle School and working at local businesses before her music career. Those jobs included Village Trattoria in Maplewood and a sneaker store in Irvington.
SZA also spoke about New Jersey’s diversity and the experiences that helped shape her worldview. She described growing up around different cultures and communities throughout the state. She also mentioned Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood while reflecting on her memories.
For SZA, New Jersey deserves more recognition within the larger tri-state area.
“Sometimes people [skip] over Jersey and go straight to New York,” she said.
Her parents, Audrey and Abdul Mubarak-Rowe, were also part of the celebration. Both spoke about watching their daughter develop into an artist. Her mother recalled knowing SZA would accomplish something special, even if she did not know what path she would take.
Her father reflected on hearing “Ctrl” and discovering another side of his daughter through her songwriting. SZA later called the induction “one of the biggest honors I’ve ever had.”
A Career Filled With Milestones
The Hall of Fame honor arrives as SZA continues expanding an already decorated career. She has won seven Grammy Awards and accumulated more than 70 billion streams across platforms, according to the organization.
Her 2017 debut album, “Ctrl,” helped establish her as one of R&B’s leading voices.
The project earned five Grammy nominations and has since been certified six-times platinum. It also spent 460 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200. SZA followed the project with “SOS” in 2022. The album and its expanded edition, “SOS Deluxe: LANA,” each reached No. 1.
“SOS” also spent 13 weeks atop the Billboard 200.
Her career has expanded beyond music. SZA starred alongside Keke Palmer in the 2025 comedy “One of Them Days.” She also co-headlined the Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar.
SZA joined several notable figures in the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s 2026 class. Other inductees included former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Members of The Rascals were also honored.
The organization selected its 2026 inductees from 60 nominees following a public vote. SZA also found another reason to celebrate the evening.
After the ceremony, she shared photos from the milestone on social media. One featured her posing with DeVito.
“Got inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame MORE IMPORTANTLY I MET DANNY DEVITO,” she joked.
For an artist whose music has reached audiences worldwide, the induction brought the recognition back to where much of her story began.