Andra Day, born Cassandra Monique Batie, is a celebrated American artist known for her work in R&B and soul music, songwriting, and acting. Her exceptional talent has garnered widespread recognition, including a Grammy Award, a Children's and Family Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Moreover, she received an Academy Award nomination, solidifying her place as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
December 30, 1984: Birth of Andra Day
Cassandra Monique Batie, known professionally as Andra Day, was born on December 30, 1984, in Edmonds, Washington.
2003: Graduation from San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
Andra Day graduated from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts in Paradise Hills in 2003.
2010: Discovered by Stevie Wonder's Wife
In 2010, Kai Millard, Stevie Wonder's wife at the time, noticed Andra Day performing at a strip mall and recommended her to Wonder, leading to a phone call from the legendary musician.
2011: Development Deal with Buskin Records
Andra Day signed a development deal with Buskin Records in 2011.
2013: Management and Record Deal
Andra Day asked Jeffrey Evans to be her manager in 2013, and later that year, she and Buskin Records secured a record deal with Warner Bros. Records.
2014: Performance at Sundance Film Festival and Collaboration with Spike Lee
Andra Day performed at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where director Spike Lee noticed her and offered to direct the music video for her single "Forever Mine."
August 28, 2015: Release of Debut Album "Cheers to the Fall"
Andra Day's debut album, "Cheers to the Fall," was released on August 28, 2015, and received critical acclaim.
September 2015: Opening Act for Lenny Kravitz
Andra Day opened for Lenny Kravitz during his national tour in August and September 2015.
September 2015: "Rise Up" Featured in Beats by Dre Ad
In September 2015, Andra Day's song "Rise Up" was featured in an advertisement for Beats by Dre starring tennis player Serena Williams.
October 2015: Performances at the White House and "Shining a Light" Concert
In October 2015, Andra Day performed "Rise Up" at The White House and at A&E's live special, "Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America."
December 2015: Appearance in Apple TV Commercial with Stevie Wonder
Andra Day appeared alongside Stevie Wonder in an Apple TV commercial in December 2015, singing Wonder's song "Someday at Christmas."
2015: Debut Album Release and Notable Appearances
Andra Day released her debut album, "Cheers to the Fall," in 2015. The same year, she appeared in an Apple TV commercial with Stevie Wonder, singing his song "Someday at Christmas."
2015: Notable Performances and Soundtrack Contribution
Andra Day performed at various events in 2015, including the BET Awards, the Special Olympics closing ceremonies, and the Essence Music Festival. She also made television appearances on shows like "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "Good Morning America." Additionally, she contributed to the soundtrack of the Netflix documentary "What Happened, Miss Simone?" with a performance of Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam."
May 2016: Partnership with McDonald's and Coca-Cola
Andra Day partnered with McDonald's and Coca-Cola in May 2016, featuring her image and lyrics from "Rise Up" on 50 million cups as part of the "Share a Cup" lyrics program.
June 2016: Essence Music Festival Performance
Andra Day performed at the Essence Music Festival in June 2016.
November 2016: "Cheers to the Fall" Tour and Democratic National Convention Performance
Andra Day kicked off her "Cheers to the Fall" tour in November 2016 in San Diego. That same year, she delivered a moving performance on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, following an address by Mothers of the Movement.
December 2016: Billboard Women in Music Powerhouse Award
Andra Day received the Powerhouse Award at the Billboard Women in Music event in December 2016.
2016: Grammy Nominations for "Cheers to the Fall" and "Rise Up"
At the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016, Andra Day's album "Cheers to the Fall" was nominated for Best R&B Album, and her single "Rise Up" received a nomination for Best R&B Performance.
2016: Grammy Nominations and Daytime Emmy Nomination
At the 2016 Grammy Awards, Andra Day's album "Cheers to the Fall" was nominated for Best R&B Album, and her single "Rise Up" was nominated for Best R&B Performance. Her performance of "Rise Up" on "The View" earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.
2016: Grammy Award Nominations and "Rise Up" Success
Andra Day received three Grammy Award nominations in 2016: Best R&B Album for "Cheers to the Fall," Best R&B Performance for "Rise Up," and Best Song Written for Visual Media for "Stand Up for Something" from the film "Marshall." This marked a significant year of recognition for her musical talents.
2017: Collaboration with Common on "Stand Up for Something"
Andra Day collaborated with rapper Common on the song "Stand Up for Something" for the film "Marshall" in 2017.
March 2018: Academy Awards Performance of "Stand Up for Something"
Andra Day and Common performed their Oscar-nominated song "Stand Up for Something" from the film "Marshall" at the 90th Academy Awards in March 2018.
March 24, 2018: Performance at March for Our Lives Rally
Andra Day performed with the Baltimore Children's Choir at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018.
2018: Daytime Emmy Award Nomination for "Rise Up" Performance
Andra Day's live performance of "Rise Up" on the daytime talk show "The View" earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2018, further solidifying the impact of her powerful song.
July 11, 2019: Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Andra Day was inducted as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority on July 11, 2019.
2020: Popularity on Jazz Radio
Andra Day became one of the most-requested artists on Jazz Joy and Roy Global Radio in 2020.
2020: Golden Globe Win and Academy Award Nomination for "The United States vs. Billie Holiday"
Andra Day's performance as Billie Holiday in the 2020 film "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" garnered significant critical acclaim. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal.
2021: Children's and Family Emmy Award for "We the People"
Andra Day won a Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Program for her work as a writer and performer on the American educational television series "We the People" in 2021.
2021: Acting Debut and Critical Acclaim for "The United States vs. Billie Holiday"
In 2021, Andra Day made her acting debut portraying Billie Holiday in the biopic "The United States vs. Billie Holiday." Her performance earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She also won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for the film's soundtrack.
2022: Casting in Lee Daniels' "The Deliverance"
It was announced in 2022 that Andra Day would be starring in Lee Daniels' horror/thriller "The Deliverance" alongside Mo'Nique, Omar Epps, Octavia Spencer, and Glenn Close.
2024: Super Bowl LVIII Pregame Performance
Andra Day performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the Super Bowl LVIII pregame show in 2024. The performance was produced and arranged by Adam Blackstone.