‘I’m just like you’: Lizzo reads her new book to College Park students
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As it turns out, being a four-time Grammy winner doesn’t protect you from the traffic-choked streets of metro Atlanta.
“I’m so sorry I was late, y’all; the traffic was crazy, so thank you for waiting so patiently for me,” pop sensation Lizzo apologized as she breezed into the cafeteria at College Park Elementary School about 15 minutes behind schedule on Thursday.
The ear-splitting screams that filled the room indicated the singer/rapper — and now children’s book author — was forgiven.
Lizzo visited the school to read her new book, “Lil Lizzo meets Shasha B. Flootin,’” a story about the singer learning to play the flute and find her own voice as a child. Before she began reading, Lizzo tried to do a little crowd work.
“I’m a singer and I’m a musician and I play this instrument,” she said, displaying her flute. “What is this instrument called?”
The screams that followed were hard to decipher. They could’ve been yelling, “flute.” Or “fruit.” Or “Kazakhstan.” It’s hard to say.
Lizzo then explained why she wrote the book. As a child, she moved from Detroit to Houston and didn’t have any friends because she was the new kid in school.
“But everything changed when I met Sasha Flute (her flute) and I joined the band, and I made some of the best friends I ever had to this very day,” she said. “So I want to share my story with y’all because I’m just like you.”
Afterward, the singer signed books for students, who gave the singer rave reviews.
“She is amazing!” said 10-year-old Shyloh Davis. “As soon as I heard the flute, I was shocked. I almost screamed.”
“I was so excited that she came,” said Armani Goddard, also 10 years old. “Especially when she played that flute and read the book to us.”
“I think she did really awesome,” said 10-year-old Makenzy Daniel. “I really loved how she was playing the flute. It made me and her (pointing to friend Londyn Jackson), like stop and say, ‘Oh my God!’”
“Especially when she said she was going to sign all of our books,” Londyn jumps in.
“Yes, we started doing like a little handshake because we were so happy, and I love that Lizzo’s here, and I’m glad that she came to visit College Park,” Makenzy added.
College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom also stopped by the event and praised the superstar for sharing her story with the students.
“I think everyone has their own unique talent, and we see where Lizzo’s love of music and her relationship with the flute, like she incorporates the flute in so much of her music, that it gives kids this message that they just need to find their own path,” she said.
Georgia lawmakers recently passed a comprehensive literacy bill, which among other things, includes $70 million for literacy coaches at elementary schools. The mayor said she fully supports the initiative and the renewed focus on literacy that’s sweeping across the state.
“In the words of Lizzo, ‘It’s about damn time,’” she said.
About Lizzo
Lizzo is a classically trained flutist. Her first commercially successful album was 2019’s “Cuz I Love You,” which included hits like “Truth Hurts” and “Good as Hell.” He fourth album “Special” produced the Grammy-winning hit “About Damn Time.”
She has appeared in a few television shows, such as “The Simpsons,” “The Mandalorian” and “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.”
In 2023, The singer, who publicly appeared to embrace self-acceptance and body-positivity, was named in a lawsuit by three of her backup dancers who accused her of body-shaming and creating a hostile work environment. Lizzo denied the claims. Part of the lawsuit is ongoing.