Lizzo participated in Carpool Karaoke with James Corden. The singer talked about her trajectory, was moved by the sound of Beyoncé and talked about the influence of the artist in her life. JIn a moment, James asked her about her name transforming from Melissa to Lizzo and she explained that it was kind of a happenstance going back to high school.
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“In Houston, you chop the second half of your name and you put an ‘O,'” she explained, which left her with the nickname Lisso. It was when the kids put some swag on it that she swapped those S’s for Z’s and Lizzo was born.
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But like every child, Lizzo also had her hard times during school and she explains that it was Beyoncé’s music that helped her get through those periods. “I would listen to Beyoncé in my bedroom and it would transport me,” she told James. “I would feel something, I would feel like my life is gonna be better, you know, there’s hope for me.”
Lizzo recalled that the artist was fundamental in her life and her decision to pursue a career. “When I dropped out of college and I was really depressed, I listened to ‘B-Day’ on repeat and I would say all the time, ‘I’m gonna be a singer, I’m gonna be a singer,'” Lizzo recalled. “The way she makes me feel is how I want to make people feel with music. She’s been my North Star.”
Corden put on “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé and Lizzo couldn’t contain her excitement and showed where so much admiration for her idol comes from. In the end, James even pranked by pretending to call Beyoncé and the singer almost believed him.
