Glastonbury headliner SZA explained and how to pronounce major star's name

14 March 2024 , 13:58

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Glastonbury announces SZA as headliner - who is the star and how to pronounce her name

Grammy-award winning artist SZA has been announced as one of the headline acts for this year's Glastonbury festival at Worthy Farm.

The popular American R&B artist may seem an unlikely choice alongside names like Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Shania Twain, but the star makes up a more female led line up for this year's festival. 33 year old SZA, who's real name is Solána Imani Rowe, was raised in New Jersey and has previously revealed that music was not her first career choice. The star went to three different colleges before settling down at Delaware State University to enrol on a marine biology course. However she left the course in her last semester as she took the leap into the music industry. 

Luckily for SZA the gamble paid off as she has gone on to release two hugely successful albums named Ctrl and SOS, as well as one live album and 44 singles. 

READ MORE: Glastonbury 2024 line-up in full with huge female headline act after 'sexism' row

SZA will headline this year's Glastonbury Festival (Getty Images)

The singer's unique stage name of SZA - pronounced "SIZ-uh" - was inspired by the Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA, yet holds deep meaning for her. The first letter of her name stands for saviour and sovereign, whilst the following letters are for Zig-Zag and Allah, taking inspiration from her religious upbringing.

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Classed amongst the most successful independent artists of all time, she has become a huge award winner as she has a a Brit Award, an American Music Award, a Guild of Music Supervisors Award, an ASCAP award and several Billboard Music Awards. She also has a Woman Of The Year Billboard award, and was also awarded the Rulebreaker Award in 2018.

Sza isn't the only female headliner, as the full Glastonbury line up has led with other female stars including Dua Lipa, Cyndi lauper, Avril Lavigne, Janelle Monae, Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Ayra Starr. Other big names taking part include Disclosure, Anne-Marie, Camila Cabello, Jessie Ware, Jamie XX and London Grammar.

SZA joins others for this year's line up at Worthy Farm, including Avril Lavigne, Dua Lipa and Shania Twain (CBS via Getty Images)

Fans have also been ecstatic as it was revealed Shania Twain will be playing the "legend" slot, which has in the past been occupied by stars such as Kylie Minogue and Diana Ross, on Sunday. Sharing the news with fans, Shania said: "The legends slot at GLASTONBURY 2024 - Another jewel in my crown!! I feel so honoured and so excited about this one! Thinking about what to wear already and tell me, what should we sing together?! Let’s make history with this ultimate dream performance!!"

Niamh Spence