SZA has fulfilled a years-long dream.
The singer-songwriter returned to the small screen Wednesday for her debut appearance on Sesame Street. One segment showed SZA drawing on a piece of paper before Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Gabrielle asked the Grammy winner what she was doing.
“Oh, I’m just adding this picture to my gratitude jar,” she told the characters. “A gratitude jar is a place where you can put words or pictures of things you’re grateful for. Sometimes when you feel sad or have other really big feelings, it can be easy to forget the things we’re thankful for, so the jar helps us to remember.”
SZA then dove into a song about the importance of kindness and gratitude.
“Be kind to me, be kind to you / Being kind is how I show my gratitude,” she sang. “Kindness can change the way you feel / Gratitude’s the right attitude.”
SZA joins the long list of recording artists who’ve appeared on Sesame Street. She follows icon acts like Diana Ross, Pharrell Williams, Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys, Johnny Cash, and Stevie Wonder.
Fans got a sneak peek at Sesame Street cameo in 2024, about seven years after she expressed interest in appearing on the PBS Kids show.
“HOW DOES ONE GET ON SESAME STREET !?” the Ctrl artist wrote in a 2017 post. Fast-forward to March 2024, when she posted a photo of herself with the Sesame Street cast.
“GODS TIMING !!! FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND SAY THEM OUTLOUD!!” she wrote on X. “NEVER GIVE UP !! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE I BELIEVE IN YOU !!”
Several months ago, the One of Them Days actress teased a pivot to children’s music before she steps away from the industry.
“To fulfill my last 2 album requirements, I think I just wanna make peaceful children’s music [and] get outta here,” SZA wrote on X. “Then go be a farmer [and] donate the produce to underserved communities.”