There’s something about seeing a superstar slow down to sit on a stoop with a couple of puppets that brings out the best in all of us. That’s exactly what happened when SZA, one of the most enigmatic and emotionally resonant voices in modern R&B, stopped by Sesame Street this week to drop not a hit single, but a gentle, joyful life lesson about gratitude.
In the episode, SZA joins Elmo, Abby, and Gabrielle to talk about something far more lasting than chart placements or viral trends: the power of being thankful. With a soft tone and a smile that carried warmth through the screen, she introduced the concept of a “gratitude jar”—a place to collect images or words that help us remember the good in our lives, even when feelings get heavy.
For fans used to the emotional complexity of SOS or the textured vulnerability in songs like “Good Days,” this felt like SZA stripped back—not just musically, but spiritually. There’s an intimacy in seeing an artist usually surrounded by festival lights and flashing cameras instead beaming in the company of felt and foam.
But let’s not overlook the music. The song she performed, “Be Kind to Me, Be Kind to You” (alternatively titled “Gratitude”), is a bright, bouncy affirmation with surprisingly nuanced lyrics. Written by Phonte Coleman, Zo!, and Bill Sherman—names that know how to weave depth into simplicity—it walks the fine line between educational and emotionally resonant. And SZA sings it with the same sincerity she brings to any of her chart-topping ballads. This isn’t a throwaway TV jingle. It’s a message delivered with love.
“If you’re solving a puzzle but it’s taking too long…” she sings. It’s the kind of line you imagine echoing in both classrooms and tour buses. Her voice, warm and slightly raspy, finds a perfect home in the soft, bright world of Sesame Street, and the contrast only makes her shine more.
And yes, for those wondering: she did fangirl. SZA left a comment on Instagram that reads like a joyful scream into the void: “I LOVE SESAME STREET !! I love this song !!! I love everybodyyyyyy !! SAVE THE CHILDREN ❤️.” It’s genuine. It’s chaotic. It’s peak SZA.
This guest appearance drops just days before she hits the road with Kendrick Lamar for their joint Grand National Tour, a stadium run that’s already selling out fast. The timing isn’t lost—before going full superstar across North America and Europe, she’s offering a different kind of performance. One for the kids, yes, but also for the child in every adult who still forgets to be kind to themselves.
Oh, and let’s not forget: she and Kendrick currently own the Billboard Hot 100 throne with “Luther,” holding No. 1 for an impressive seventh week. So, if you needed a reminder that artists can balance superstar power with authentic, community-rooted joy—this is it.
In a world that often feels rushed and chaotic, SZA’s moment on Sesame Street reminds us all to slow down, say thank you, and show up with love.
