SZA has thanked Drew Barrymore for influencing her to have a "carefree" energy.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on Monday, the singer-songwriter explained how the Hollywood star was the inspiration for the song titled Drew Barrymore on her 2017 debut album, Ctrl.
The Charlie's Angels actress also made a brief cameo in the accompanying Dave Meyers-directed music video.
"It was inspired by you. It wasn't just titled after you," SZA told the talk show host. "The energy that you carry, even my outfit, is inspired by the way you've made me feel my entire life, like the carefree (energy). You don't understand. I wrote you this letter that I never sent you. When you're a younger 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 was you because you were so yourself."
In the song, SZA - real name Solána Rowe - reflects on discovering that a man she was dating had attended a party with another woman.
And the Good Days hitmaker went on to thank Drew for embracing what others may perceive to be flaws.
"You were quirky. Your smile wasn't perfect. I have a slight speech impediment, and people laugh all the time," the 35-year-old said. "They're like, 'What is SZA saying?' And it's like a running joke. I love the way you talk and like, just all the you-ness of you, your laugh, even in the movies and in real life. It just reminds me of all the things about myself that make me nervous, but on you, it shines so brightly."
And after the pair shared a warm hug, SZA praised Drew for always being herself.
"All your old photoshoots, I look them up... I love you," she added.
In response, Drew shared a similar sentiment.
"I think maybe what you picked up when you were young, and 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 that it will be OK to be exactly who we are," she smiled.
The conversation comes a few weeks after SZA dropped Lana, a reissue of her 2022 album SOS.
