Andra Day

Cassandra Batie, who uses the stage name "Andra Day," is an American R&B artist and Oscar-winning actress. Born in Edmonds, Washington, on December 30, 1984, she spent most of her childhood in San Diego, California, where she sang in church and later graduated from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. She gained exposure with covers and mash-ups on her YouTube channel, then made her studio debut in 2015 with Cheers to the Fall, which went to Number 3 on Billboard's Top R&B Chart. The Grammy-nominated single "Rise Up" went to Number 6 on the Adult R&B Song Chart, with "Gold" reaching Number 13. Her holiday-themed EP, Merry Christmas from Andra Day, peaked at Number 16 in 2016, its popularity boosted by her hit duet with Stevie Wonder on "Someday at Christmas." Andra Day's career took another turn when she recorded "Stand Up for Something" with rapper Common for Marshall, a 2017 biographic film about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Co-written by Common and veteran songwriter Diane Warren, the single reached Number 15 on Billboard's Adult R&B Chart and received nominations from the Grammy and Academy Awards. Andra Day remained involved in the film industry during the following years, earning an Academy Award for her portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday in the 2021 film The United States Vs. Billie Holiday. She also performed the film's Oscar-nominated original song, "Tigress and Tweed." Three years later, she released her second solo album, CASSANDRA (cherith), whose songs showcased the jazzy, soulful power of her voice.