Lizzo celebrates birthday by announcing new album

Lizzo, real name Melissa Jefferson, celebrated her 38th birthday by announcing her fifth studio album, B**ch, which is set to release on 5 June. She shared the album cover art—a hand holding a cutout of herself in place of a middle finger—and revealed the title track, interpolating Meredith Brooks's 1997 song of the same name. In a statement, Lizzo explained that she wanted to reclaim the word 'b**ch,' transforming it from a derogatory term into a symbol of confidence and self-love. She cited inspirations like Meredith Brooks and Missy Elliott. Additionally, Lizzo mentioned upcoming projects, including a children’s book, *Lil Lizzo Meets Sasha B. Flootin’*, due in September, and a role as musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the biopic *Rosetta* from Amazon MGM Studios.