Who is SZA? Glastonbury Festival goes from R and B sensation to global music icon

The R&B sensation SZA is all set to take the stage at Glastonbury later today. When the 34 year old was revealed as one of this year's headliners, there were some who questioned her credentials - unsure if she was a singer, a DJ, or even a band.

However, for those unfamiliar with her work, it's time to catch up, as she has rapidly ascended to become one of the world's leading female artists.

SZA, pronounced 'scissor' and born Solana Imani Rowe, is an American R&B singer-songwriter with an impressive discography that includes two studio albums, three EPs, one live album, and 44 singles (11 as a featured artist).

Her stage name draws inspiration from rapper RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. The 'S' stands for saviour or sovereign, the 'Z' for Zig-Zag, and the 'A' for Allah - a tribute to her Muslim upbringing.

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With her music reaching ears worldwide, SZA has rightfully earned her spot on the line-up alongside stars like Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Shania Twain. Her versatility shines through in her ability to rap and deliver powerful ballads with equal ease, reports the Mirror.

Her unique brand of electronic pop has gained widespread recognition, propelling her to a decorated career.

Over the years, SZA has collected an array of accolades including four Grammy Awards, one Brit Award, an American Music Award, a Guild of Music Supervisors Award, and two Billboard Women in Music awards.

She began her career as an independent artist and quickly rose to become one of the most successful independent artists in history. Her first two EPs were released in 2013, before she was signed by Top Dawg Entertainment - becoming the first female artist to join the label, which also boasts Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q among its ranks.

The star then inked a joint recording contract with RCA Records, marking the true beginning of her meteoric rise. In 2017, she dropped her debut album 'Ctrl', which earned her four Grammy nominations.

The album has since achieved triple platinum status and holds the record for being the second longest-charting R&B album by a female artist on the Billboard 200.

In 2022, she released her 'SOS' album, which dominated the Billboard 200 for an impressive 10 weeks. She scored her first number one hit with the track 'Kill Bill' and was honoured as Billboard's Woman of the Year in 2023.

Her collaborations read like a who's who of the music industry, with Drake, Phoebe Bridgers, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5 and Lizzo all featuring on her tracks.

Not only does she pen her own songs, but she has also co-written tracks for top-tier artists such as Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and Travis Scott, among others. She featured on Rihanna's 2014 album 'ANTI' and the Kendrick Lamar-curated soundtrack for 'Black Panther'.

She's also made waves on TikTok with several viral hits. She has a rich history in her personal life, notably dating Drake and allegedly having a brief involvement with Kylie Jenner's former partner, Travis Scott. The speculation sparked when he was seen at one of her Manchester concerts back in June 2023, and her cameo in his K-pop video only fuelled the rumours further.

Earlier in her life, she was engaged to her adolescent love, believed to be fashion designer Scott Sasso, with their relationship spanning 11 years.

While sharing her journey with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, she disclosed that it was this relationship that motivated her to pursue music. "[I] really only did music to prove a point," she confessed.

"When I started making music, it was to my ex-fiance, because he was paying for everything. My food, my clothes, where I lived - and he was eight years my senior, so I was so codependent."