SZA recently made a special appearance on Sesame Street, where she joined Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Gabrielle for a heartwarming moment centered around kindness and gratitude. The Grammy-winning artist performed the tune “Be Kind to Me, Be Kind to You” which focuses on the power of generosity.
In a clip from the episode that aired today (April 10), SZA is seen adding pieces of paper to a “gratitude jar.” Curious about what she’s creating, Elmo, Abby, and Gabrielle bounce in asking, “What’s Miss SZA doing?” to which she responds, “I’m just adding this picture to my gratitude jar.” The “Snooze” singer goes on to explain that a gratitude jar is “a place where you can put words or pictures of things you’re grateful for.” She adds, “Sometimes when you feel sad or have other really big feelings, it can be easy to forget the things that we’re thankful for. The jar helps us remember.”
To emphasize her message, SZA then launches into a adorable song about self-love and kindness, singing: “Be kind to me, be kind to you/ Being kind is how I show my gratitude/ Kindness can change the way you feel/ Gratitude’s the right attitude.” Watch below.
Upon teasing her appearance on the longstanding staple in children’s television back in January, SZA posted on Instagram: “This was the purest happiest day from top to bottom. Thank you for having me and for patching up my inner child.”
According to a press release, other stars joining the series this season include Michael B. Jordan, Reneé Rapp, Noah Kahan, Chris Stapleton, Samara Joy, Jonathan Van Ness, and Billie Jean King. Past guests have included Usher, Mickey Guyton, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Erykah Badu, the Fugees, Patti Labelle, Anderson .Paak, Billie Eilish, and many more.
The show has consistently used its platform to teach important life lessons in fun and engaging ways, all done by some of the most influential faces in pop culture. According to 55th season’s announcement, this time around the curriculum will center on “emotional well-being, offering children practical strategies to understand and manage big emotions through fun, relatable, and engaging stories.”
Sal Perez, Sesame Street’s Executive Producer, stated: “New episodes of Sesame Street will help young viewers understand and express their feelings, learn new mindfulness practices, and as always, have a blast with their favorite furry and funny friends. Whether it’s taking a volcano breath when angry, learning to give yourself a hug when frustrated, or wiggling it out when disappointed, we are empowering children with the strategies to help build resiliency and the foundational skills for emotional well-being.”
As for SZA, later this month she’ll hit the road on the Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar, performing live across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the UK. The tour follows their unforgettable collaboration during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
Check out SZA singing with Elmo and the Sesame Street band above.