Melissa Viviane Jefferson (professionally: Lizzo) is an American musician who became a global superstar following the success of her third studio, Cuz I Love You. Lizzo’s album included her 2017 single Truth Hurts, a sleeper single that topped the Billboard Hot 100 two years after its release.

Lizzo scooped three Grammys out of the eight nominations she received at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. She also won a BET Award, Billboard Music Award, and two Soul Train Music Awards. Lizzo is also an actor, appearing in Hustlers and UglyDolls, and an outspoken advocate for body positivity.

This piece will look at Lizzo’s parents.

Lizzo dropped out of school after her father’s death as she felt like she had no direction in life

Lizzo was born on 27th April 1988 in Detroit, Michigan. The family moved to Houston, Texas, when Lizzo was ten years old. She started rapping at the age of 14. In 2009, Lizzo’s life came crashing down after the death of her dad. She lost interest in everything, including school and music. She told CBS This Morning that she had no direction in life:

“I was depressed. I didn’t have a purpose. Like, I didn’t feel like I had a purpose for being a musician or anything. So that turned into, ‘Oh can I sleep on your couch,’ and that eventually, I got really guilt-ridden. So all I had was this car. It was a Subaru. That was my home for a little. I spent Thanksgiving in that car, and I remember I cried myself to sleep.”

Thankfully, Lizzo found her strength and her focus. She moved to Minneapolis, where she performed with Indie groups before transitioning to hip hop. A decade after her father’s death, she earned her first number-one single. On New Year’s Day 2019, she tweeted:

“2009 was the year my daddy died. 2009 was the year I lived in my car & cried myself to sleep on Thanksgiving. 2019 is the year my album & song went #1… Anything can happen in a decade.”

Lizzo recently showed appreciation for her mom by gifting her with a new Audi

“2019 is the year I told my mama I can buy her a house,” Lizzo tweeted on New Year’s Day 2019. After her father’s death, Lizzo’s mom, Shari Johnson-Jefferson, offered all the support that she could.

Lizzo is no stranger to gifting her mom, and for Christmas 2020, she gave Shari a brand new Audi. She posted a video of the moment on Instagram alongside the caption:

“I remember crying in my car when my daddy passed, no job no money nowhere to live, wishing I could one day provide for my family. I couldn’t do it for my dad so I’ma make sure I spoil Mama.”