SZA Honored With Hal David Starlight Award For Songwriting Brilliance: ‘Writing Was Where I Felt Like A Person’

SZA celebrated her remarkable songwriting talent by receiving the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame last week.

The Grammy-winning singer attended the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on Thursday, June 13.

SZA was presented with the award by legendary musician and songwriter Nile Rodgers, as reported by Forbes.

In her heartfelt acceptance speech, the “Kill Bill” singer expressed deep gratitude for the recognition.

“As an artist, I’ve been a lot of different people. I’ve been 200 pounds. I’ve been 130 pounds,” SZA shared. “I’ve been someone who doesn’t dance at all onstage, someone that can only close their eyes and look down, someone that is dancing and trying their best.

“I’ve just been all these things, and I feel like, ‘Oh man, I struggle at the artist thing.’ Writing was where I felt like a person and that I had value and that I could show that I was smart, and it was beyond, ‘Am I pretty? Am I liked?’ And that basically meant everything to me,” she continued. “It made me feel like a person, that I was doing something worth something. So basically, receiving this award validates my entire career.”

SZA capped off her speech with an acoustic performance of her hit song “Snooze” from her critically acclaimed album SOS.

She now joins the ranks of past honorees such as Alicia Keys, John Mayer, John Legend, Lil Nas X, Ed Sheeran, and Drake.

The 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame also honored notable figures including super producer Timbaland, renowned songwriter Hillary Lindsey, ballad queen Diane Warren, the late Cindy Walker, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, and Mike Mills and Michael Stipe of R.E.M.