SZA’s debut studio album, Ctrl, was a hit. It debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard Top 200 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Because of her album’s success, the 27-year-old singer earned nominations for Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Female Artist, and Top R&B Album at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards.
She was also nominated for Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, and Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice at the 2018 BET Awards.
SZA was born Solána Imani Rowe in St. Louis Missouri and eventually relocated to Maplewood, New Jersey. She began her career with the EP See SZA run in October 2012. After releasing a trio of EP’s, she made her studio album debut. SZA’s father was an executive producer at CNN, while her mother was an executive at AT&T.
She was raised as an “Orthodox Muslim,” but stopped wearing her hijab after she was subject to bullying following the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City. The name SZA comes from the Supreme Alphabet, with an influence from rapper RZA. SZA represents “Savior, Zig-Zag, and Allah.”