Singer-songwriter SZA has been making the rounds promoting her new highly-anticipated film, “One of Them Days.” The comedy she headlines alongside her real-life gal pal Keke Palmer premieres Jan. 17. But when the “Kill Bill” artist stopped by “The Drew Barrymore Show” on Monday (Jan. 13), she took some time to show the host, who she says gave her permission to be herself, a little love.
During the interview, SZA told Barrymore the story behind her 2017 hit, “Drew Barrymore.”
Suggested Reading
“It was inspired by you. It wasn’t just titled after you. The energy that you carry,” she said. “Even my outfit [today] was inspired by the way you made me feel my entire life.”
SZA went on to tell Barrymore about a letter she wrote but never sent that honored all of the perfectly imperfect things about the actress she’s always admired.
“I guess when you’re younger and you’re a 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, it was you because you were so yourself. You were quirky,” she said.
SZA, who ended 2024 going after trolls who made who made some not-so-nice comments about her body, went on to gush about how Barrymore has embraced her smile, her laugh and other things she called, “the youness of you,” that didn’t always fit the Hollywood norms.
“It just reminds me of all the things about myself that make me nervous but on you, it shines so brightly,” she said.
The pair shared a sweet hug as the audience erupted in applause at the tender moment.
The clip has received over 850,000 likes on TikTok, as commenters shared their own stories about how Drew Barrymore – the person and the song – inspired them.
“’Drew Barrymore’ by SZA actually got me through my 20s. ‘I get so lonely I forget what I’m worth’ changed me,” wrote a commenter.
But one comment really summed up how most people feel about the actress - talk show host.
“Drew is really that girl,” wrote someone.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.