Most music lovers have heard of breakout superstar Lizzo. Born in 1988 as Melissa Viviane Jefferson, she has really started to make a place for herself in the world of music. She has even gotten the attention of some of the industry’s most iconic legends, more of which will be discussed below as you read about 10 things you probably didn’t know about the musical prodigy known as Lizzo.
1. She didn’t start singing until she was in her teens
When she was a teenager, she and her family moved to Houston. It was there that she began laying the foundation for what would ultimately become her musical career, singing with other kids in the area. You might say that this is where she honed her singing chops and got her first taste of performing, albeit locally. At any rate, she discovered that she loved performing for the sake of the performance itself. This ultimately cemented her desire to sing and also spearheaded her decision to become an actress.
2. She and her family moved a lot, but she didn’t let that stop her
She had formed a group with her friends in Houston called the Cornrow Clique. After living in Houston for only four years, she and her family moved to Minneapolis. For some, this would have spelled the end of a potentially promising musical career but she was determined not to let anything stop her. She continued to perform and was instrumental in forming another group, The Chalice. In 2012, this group released their first album, something she had been dreaming about for the majority of her young life.
3. She can also play
If you think that her only musical talent involves having a great set of pipes, you would be mistaken. She’s also quite gifted when it comes to playing an instrument or two. To be more precise, she can hold her own very well when playing the flute. As it turns out, this is something she has played continuously from the time she was a young child. In fact, she doesn’t just play the flute as a hobby. She ultimately returned to Texas to attend the University of Houston, where she graduated with a degree in Classical Flute. For anyone who has studied music at the university level, you know that it takes some serious dedication (not to mention skill) to pull this off. Clearly, the girl can play.
4. She is classically trained
Unfortunately, there will always be those who have something negative to say about someone else. This has been the case concerning her ability to play the flute. Some have been unfairly critical of her abilities, not because she can’t play well, but because others sometimes have a difficult time wrapping their heads around the idea of someone who can rap and sing, who just also happens to play the flute. Make no mistake about it, she has plenty of formal training on the instrument. The truth is, she could probably out-play most people who consider themselves to be quite good on the instrument.
5. She doesn’t just sing; she has a message
She uses her position as a performer to send out a positive message about body image to others. Lizzo has never been ashamed or apologetic about her own body image, nor should she be. In fact, she routinely uses dancers in her acts who are also plus size, driving home the fact that you don’t have to look like a Barbie doll in order to achieve your goals, whatever they may be. She also brought her message of acceptance and inclusion to one of her Pride performances, which by all accounts, was one worthy of bringing down the house.
6. She’s been embraced by the late night talk show circuit
There is no doubt that it’s hard to find success in any form of show business. This is especially true when you are building up momentum. In her case, there has been one place where she has been widely accepted. The late night talk show circuit has been especially warm and welcoming, having her perform on the majority of the more popular shows more than once, especially in the United States. It’s important to remember that these shows have a lot of viewers, so she has no doubt gained new fans as a direct result of her performances here.
7. She has gotten the attention of none other than Sir Elton John
What an honor it must be to sing well enough that Elton John takes note. That is precisely what has happened for Lizzo. In fact, Elton John has even had her featured on a podcast he does designed to showcase some of the best and brightest musical talent of this generation. Up and coming greats like Teyana Taylor have been featured on the show, as has the incredibly versatile and talented Taron Egerton, who’s range as an actor is matched perhaps only by his range as a singer (he just happens to play Elton John in the moving film “Rocketman,” a musical biopic of John’s life, where Egerton does all of his own singing). You guessed it, Lizzo was also featured on the podcast and has garnered some high praise from Elton John himself. You really couldn’t ask for more, could you?
8. She’s versatile
She raps, she sings, she plays the flute. She has proven time and again that even when she is faced with adversity, she merely uses it as fuel to spur her on to her next achievement. This is not someone who plans on hiding in the corner. She has things she wants to accomplish in life and by all accounts, it looks like she is well on her way to doing exactly that.
9. She brings a grittiness to her performances, in all the best ways
Perhaps it is because of moving around a lot and being forced to allow her dreams to become too important to give up on. Maybe it is because she has been forced, through her very success, to deal with those who want to paint her into a corner when it comes to body image and talent. Whatever the reason might be, she brings a certain toughness to her performances, but not in a negative way. In short, she shows others that their dreams can become a reality as well.
10. Like most “overnight” stars, she’s been at it a while
A lot of people tend to think she has been an overnight sensation. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Remember, her first album was released in 2012. She did her first tour in 2013. She has been working steadily at advancing her career since then and in truth, long before then. Clearly, her hard work is paying off.
