When it comes to unexpected pop culture pairings, Drew Barrymore and SZA might top the list. In a good way, of course! Throughout the years, we’ve seen how their connection is as genuine as it is delightful. Nearly eight years after the release of SZA’s breakout single “Drew Barrymore,” the beloved Hollywood actress is still pinching herself over the tribute.
Barrymore recently took to Instagram with a throwback photo alongside the R&B superstar, writing, “Throwback to this ‘pinch me’ moment. I still can’t believe you wrote such a beautiful song and named it my name! I’m the luckiest girl in the world! You’re the greatest. @sza.”
The Song That Started It All
It’s not the first time Barrymore has gushed over the song. Or over SZA herself, as a matter of fact. Their relationship has blossomed from a fan tribute into a genuine mutual admiration society.
Released in 2017 as the lead single from her Grammy-nominated debut album “Ctrl,” “Drew Barrymore” wasn’t just a clever name-drop. It was THE perfect marketing tool to do. Written by SZA (real name Solána Rowe), the song tapped into feelings of insecurity as a young woman, imbalance in relationships, and not quite fitting in. Yes, it’s a theme Barrymore herself had embodied on screen.
SZA explained that she grew up relating to Barrymore’s “oddball” characters in films like “Never Been Kissed.” Josie Grossie, Barrymore’s awkward but lovable protagonist, gave the future superstar confidence in her own quirks.
“You were quirky, your smile wasn’t perfect,” SZA told Barrymore in 2023 during her appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” “I have a slight speech impediment and people laugh all the time. But I loved the way you talked, your laugh… it reminded me that all the things about myself that made me nervous could shine so brightly, too.”
The track resonated far beyond its muse. Critics hailed it as one of SZA’s most candid and vulnerable works, with The Guardian ranking it among her top five songs. The music video, directed by Dave Meyers, even featured a quick cameo by Barrymore herself. So unexpectedly, but perfectly, the “50 First Dates” actress passes by SZA on a New York stairwell.
Drew Barrymore & SZA: A Hollywood-Meets-R&B Friendship
Barrymore didn’t just sit back and enjoy the tribute; she jumped right in. In 2017, she posted a video of herself watching SZA perform the track on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” visibly moved by the fact that her name was lighting up the music world in a whole new way.
SZA, for her part, once admitted she had written a “long, dramatic letter” to Barrymore about how her movies shaped her, though it was never sent. Instead, fate took care of the introduction. When the two finally met in person, the bond was instant, because well, these two souls are some of the nicest on the planet.
Barrymore later recalled filming her cameo for the music video, saying it was surreal to step into a world that had been inspired by her own legacy. “It was inspired by you, it wasn’t just titled after you,” SZA reminded her.
The admiration continues to flow both ways. Barrymore has since called SZA “the greatest,” while SZA has credited Barrymore for giving her permission to fully embrace her individuality.
Where They Are Now
Fast forward to 2025, and both women are thriving in their respective worlds. SZA is fresh off the European leg of her Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar and gearing up for the next leg.
Barrymore, meanwhile, continues to shine as the host of her daytime talk show “The Drew Barrymore Show” on CBS, balancing her trademark humor and heart with A-list guests and candid moments.
What started as a song has turned into something more! It was a cross-generational friendship between a Hollywood icon and one of the most powerful voices in R&B today. And if Barrymore’s Instagram throwback is any indication, she’s still just as charmed, just as we are!
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Drew Barrymore Gets Emotional Over SZA’s Song Named After Her: ‘The Luckiest Girl in the World’ [PHOTOS]