Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has opened up about her disappointment after her recently released fifth studio album, B*TCHfailed to make a significant impact on the charts.
According to a report by Rolling Stonethe 38-year-old singer and rapper’s latest album, released on Friday, June 5, sold only 2,649 copies in its opening week, compared to approximately 39,000 copies for her 2022 album, Special.
Lizzo addressed the disappointing sales during a new interview on the Proto Pop podcast with host Zachary Hourihane on Sunday, June 28, admitting that although her expectations were realistic, the outcome was still difficult to process.
“It dropped, and I was like, ‘Oh, OK, this isn’t kinda what I thought it would be. I didn’t think it would be crazy, but I also didn’t think it would be this. There was, like, 24 hours of my life where I based my success and my worth on a number, and I think that was soul-crushing,'” she said.
In an emotional admission, the About Damn Time hitmaker revealed that she took the response “to heart” and was “really stressed” for a couple of days.
She continued, “I had to come to terms with the fact that not only is the music industry different than it was three years ago, but also my relationship and my connection with the world, musically, are different. I think I had to mourn that.”
Lizzo also gave a heartfelt shout-out to fellow artist SZA for standing by her during the difficult period and helping her re-evaluate how she measures success.
“Thank God for Solána. SZA called me and was like, ‘Hey, you’re on my mind!’ I was like (crying), ‘Am I a failure?’ She was like, ‘Oh my God, no!’ She was so sweet, and I meditated and prayed on it. I was like, ‘This is why I don’t judge myself and my success, or impact, by numbers because it’s soul-crushing if you do,'” she added.
The conversation with SZA ultimately helped the Juice songstress reframe her perspective and realise that chart performance does not define a musician’s success.
“I had to reframe and be like, ‘But aren’t you proud of yourself?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I actually am proud of myself.’ Aren’t you excited to sing these songs? Aren’t you glad they’re out?’ Yeah,” she noted.
Lizzo’s upcoming projects
Looking ahead, Lizzo is gearing up to release her children’s book, Lil Lizzo Meets Sasha B. Floatin’in September 2026. She is also set to portray legendary musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios biopic, Rosetta.
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