SZA recently opened up about her struggles with anxiety and self-doubt while touring alongside Kendrick Lamar on the Grand National Tour. In a heartfelt interview with Chappell Roan for Interview Magazine, the Grammy-winning artist revealed she worried fans were only showing up for Kendrick — not for her.
“Same thing with the Kendrick tour,” she said. “Everybody’s going to see Kendrick. I don’t even know if I have anything to show these people that’s exciting and new.”
SZA explained that before shows or major events, she often suffered from panic attacks and would sometimes cancel appearances due to overwhelming self-doubt. “I felt like I wouldn’t succeed or that no one cared,” she said.
Despite these fears, the Grand National Tour, supporting Kendrick’s GNX and SZA’s SOS Deluxe: Lana, has been a major hit, selling out stadiums across North America and Europe. Fans have responded strongly to SZA’s performances, showing that her presence is not only welcomed but essential to the tour’s success.
Now, she’s embracing a more fearless attitude. “Now it’s just like, ‘Fuck it. I don’t have anything else to do, and I want to see where this door is going to lead.’”
SZA’s honesty sheds light on the mental health challenges artists often face, even at the height of success. Her story is a reminder that vulnerability doesn’t weaken a performer — it makes them human. And in SZA’s case, it’s made her even more beloved by fans.
