Andra Day at Billboard Women in Music 2024 held at YouTube Theater on March 6, 2024 in Inglewood.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty
Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty
Andra Daydoesn’t live her life based on what others think.
On Wednesday, the “Rise Up” singer spoke exclusively to PEOPLE at theBillboard Women in Music Awardsat the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California abouther recent 2024 Super Bowl performance.
Day stole the show with her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is also known as “The Black National Anthem” before kickoff, however, it wasn’t without a bit of backlash — though she isn’t concerned with the critics.
“I really didn’t interpret the backlash, you know? It all really comes down to, for me, my faith, right? I’m a very spiritual person, which is different for everyone,” the “Stand Up for Something” songstress, 39, told PEOPLE.
Andra Day performs ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas in February 2024.Jamie Squire/Getty
Jamie Squire/Getty
She also considered people having a difference in opinion to be “a normal thing.”
Day added that instead of focusing on the negative commentary, she’d rather focus on the good in life.
“You can just live, and you can walk in [your] purpose, and you can really have peace about that,” she said.
During her conversation with PEOPLE, Day discussed what it meant to her to “stand in the shoes ofSheryl Lee Ralph,” who performed the Black National Anthem at the 2023 Super Bowl.
“It was an honor to sing a song that actually unifies people, that truly brings people together, so, you know, the naysayers will always be there. And bless them too, you know what I’m saying? I have peace about it, full peace, for sure,” Day said. She also praisedAlicia Keys, who later joinedUsherfor the 2024 halftime show.
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Andra Day at the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Press Conference in Las Vegas in February 2024.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Speaking at the televised press conference,Day expressed her excitementto share “such an important piece of our culture with the world."
“It feels intentional. I like to do things with intention and with purpose,’ she said, calling the song “a hymn of triumph.”
She, Malone, 28, and McEntire, 68, performed during different segments at the annual sporting event.
Andra Day at Billboard Women in Music 2024 held at YouTube Theater on March 6, 2024 in Inglewood.Amy Sussman/Getty
Amy Sussman/Getty
Before wrapping her conversation with PEOPLE at the Billboard Women in Music event on Wednesday, the Grammy winner was happy to discuss her upcoming projectCassandra.
“I’m excited because I’m actually producing on this record as well,” she said while opening up about having “more creative control” this time around.
“I brought my band into the studio to produce with me, I brought some friends into the studio to produce with me. So, the truth of the matter is, I feel like I have been like 10 different people in the last few years of my life.”
“You know, between the movies and just the different seasons of my life, going through breakups. Like I said, I’m really at a place where I’m just, I’m taking the good with the bad and I’m grateful for it all, and this album reflects that,” she said.
source: people.com
