SZA has added another accolade to her impressive collection. The 34-year-old singer received the Hal David Starlight Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame 2024 Induction and Awards Gala on June 13. This award honors her significant impact on the music industry through her original songwriting.
SZA’s Acceptance Speech
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, SZA expressed her gratitude and disbelief. “I’m just beyond all of my wildest dreams,” she said. She highlighted how the award “basically validates” all aspects of her career, especially her songwriting. “I’m just so grateful,” SZA continued. “Thank you for seeing me.”
SZA also addressed the challenges she faced as a woman and a Black woman in the music industry. “I swear, I’ll be like, ‘Oh I wrote this and I wrote that,’” she shared. “And [people would] be like, ‘OK,’ especially if you’re a woman, especially if you’re a Black woman. So to win this… It just means the world.”
After her speech, SZA performed an acoustic rendition of “Snooze.” Nile Rodgers, a legendary songwriter, presented her with the award.
A Decorated Career
This recognition is the latest in a series of awards for SZA. Following the success of her album SOS, she has won three Grammys, four iHeartRadio Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, and a Brit Award. She joins an elite group of past Hal David Starlight Award recipients, including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Post Malone, and Lil Nas X.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame event, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, also saw the induction of several iconic artists. Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, producer and rapper Timbaland, and R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and Michael Stipe were among those honored.
Looking Ahead
SZA’s summer schedule is packed with performances and award show appearances. She is a five-time nominee at the 2024 BET Awards on June 30, including a nomination for her feature on “Rich Baby Daddy” with Drake.
Her SOS Tour grossed $95.5 million and sold 674,000 tickets in 2023. She recently headlined the 2024 Governors Ball and will perform at Summerfest in Milwaukee and the British Summer Time Hyde Park concert series in London.
Beyond music, SZA is set to make her acting debut in a buddy comedy opposite Keke Palmer, produced by Issa Rae at TriStar Pictures. SZA’s influence continues to grow, both in music and beyond.