The 1960s gave us Cher. Next came Madonna, and then Beyonce. And now, in 2019, we have Lizzo. Although Lizzo has been releasing music since 2013, her name is just now beginning to appear in mainstream media. With her first Coachella appearance, an upcoming tour and a brand new album under her belt, here's everything you need to know about this rising star, and why you should be a fan.
Lizzo, born as Melissa Viviane Jefferson, first made waves in the music industry with the release of her 2016 single, "Good as Hell." Shortly after, she made her solo EP debut with "Coconut Oil," which hit number 44 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Since then, Lizzo has made quite a name for herself, touring with both Haim and Florence + The Machine, in addition to appearing on "RuPaul's Drag Race." You may have heard some of her songs before, as they have been featured in several popular TV shows and films this year.
In the past month alone, Lizzo performed at the GLAAD Awards, appeared in "Vogue," sang at Coachella for the first time and released "Cuz I Love You," her first album under Atlantic Records. And upon its initial release, "Cuz I Love You" surpassed Beyonce's "Homecoming: The Live Album," and now currently sits at #1 on the iTunes charts, ranking above both Beyonce's album and Billie Eilish's "WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO." With celebrities such as "Queer Eye's" Jonathan Van Ness and actress Jameela Jamil constantly raving about her on Instagram, clearly there is something more to love about Lizzo than just her musical achievements.
Looking beyond her success and triumph, Lizzo exemplifies female empowerment and body positivity. Her discography shows a great display of upbeat tunes that send a message of self-love, with songs such as "Like a Girl" and "Fitness." Lizzo's fighting for body acceptance through her backup dancers, the Big Grrrls, which is a group of all plus size women. Her music has a common theme of accepting and loving who you are, no matter your size, gender, skin color or sexual orientation. On Instagram, she's most certainly not one to shy away from embracing who she is and inspiring others to do the same. Oh, and by the way - she's a classically trained flutist.
I guarantee this won't be the last you hear of Lizzo - she is well on her way to becoming one of the top artists of this generation. You can see her in the upcoming "Hustlers" film, alongside Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu and Cardi B, or watch her live at her "Cuz I Love You" tour this summer.
