SZA has responded after Cher appeared to confuse Luther Vandross with the Record of the Year winner at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The Kill Bill hitmaker spoke out after Cher mistakenly declared the late singer-songwriter Vandross as the winner, instead of SZA and Kendrick Lamar, whose song Luther took home the prize at this year’s ceremony.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight after the annual music event, SZA said the mix-up was an understandable mistake.
“We share the frequency of the song,” the 36-year-old said. “Like, that’s his frequency that allowed us to win and that allowed it to be memorable.”
“So, she’s not wrong,” she continued, “and she’s from that era. She probably really knew Luther Vandross. Of course, her brain and her energy is connecting that energy to the energy that we’re sharing.”
SZA, real name Solána Rowe, also acknowledged that she and Kendrick’s 2024 track samples Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s 1982 cover of If This World Were Mine.
“We’re mooching off of what Luther already gave us, so we’re grateful,” the Snooze hitmaker stated, “It’s like, I wish I could speak to him. Thank you, Luther.”
The hitmaker also revealed that she had previously met Cher, 79, and was left starstruck by the music icon.
“I had spoken to Cher at the Cyndi Lauper tribute, and I was so befuddled by her beauty,” she told the outlet. “She, like, looked me in the eyes, and I was like…I just stopped talking. I don’t know what happened to me.”
The singer continued, “But I love Cher. That’s my…my twin card. She’s a queen of clubs. Y’all go ahead and Google what that means.”
SZA won two Grammy Awards on Sunday, with Luther taking Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance.
