Lizzo’s New Album Didn’t Sell Well — And She’s Being Honest About How It Feels

What Happened?

Lizzo is a famous singer you might know from super-happy songs like "About Damn Time" and "Truth Hurts." She just released a brand-new album called Bitch on June 5, 2026. But here’s the thing — not many people bought it.

In the first week, the album only sold 2,649 copies. To put that in perspective, her last album Special (from 2022) sold 39,000 copies in its first week. That’s a really big drop.

The album also didn’t make it onto the Billboard 200 — that’s a big chart that ranks the most popular albums in America. Her last album Special reached No. 2 on that chart, and its hit song "About Damn Time" even went to No. 1 and won a Grammy!

How Did Lizzo React?

Lizzo sat down for an interview with someone called "Swiftologist" on June 28 and was very open about how she felt. Here’s what she shared:

• She said that for about 24 hours, she based her entire sense of success and self-worth on the sales numbers, and she called that experience "soul-crushing."
• She was stressed and sad for a few days because she truly believes this is some of her best music ever.
• She said: "Wait a minute. This is some of my best stuff. I want people to find it."

But then she did something really healthy — she meditated and prayed about it and decided to change how she thinks about success.

Important Point: Lizzo realized that judging her worth by numbers is "soul-crushing." Instead, she chose to focus on being proud of herself and excited to share her music.

She told herself:

• "Aren’t you proud of yourself?" — Yes, she is.
• "Aren’t you excited to sing these songs?" — Yes, she is.
• "Aren’t you glad they’re out?" — Yes, she is.

Why Did This Happen?

Lizzo thinks there are a couple of reasons why her connection with fans has changed:

1. The music industry changed. She explained on X (formerly Twitter) that she used to be a "radio darling" — meaning radio stations played her songs all the time. But now, most people listen through streaming (like Spotify or Apple Music), and that shift affected her reach.

2. A lawsuit hurt her career. In 2023, some of Lizzo’s former dancers filed a workplace misconduct lawsuit against her, accusing her of assault, false imprisonment, and sexual harassment. Lizzo has strongly and repeatedly denied these allegations, and the civil case is still ongoing. She believes this "very obvious and public attack" on her career changed how people see her.

What Is This Album Actually About?

Even though the album didn’t sell well, Lizzo is really proud of what it represents. She told USA TODAY that Bitch is about "reclaiming who I am."

Here’s what she meant:

• A lot of people have tried to define who she is from the outside.
• This album is her taking her identity back.
• She wants to show the Lizzo that everybody knows and loves, let her tell her side of the story, and just let her play and have fun again.

Quick Facts at a Glance

• Album name: Bitch
• Release date: June 5, 2026
• First-week sales: 2,649 copies
• Previous album sales: 39,000 copies (Special, 2022)
• Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Lizzo’s age: 38
• Famous songs: "About Damn Time," "Truth Hurts"
• Lawsuit status: Ongoing (Lizzo denies all allegations)

Summary

Lizzo’s new album Bitch sold far fewer copies than expected, and it didn’t make any major charts. She admitted this was painful and "soul-crushing" at first. But she worked through those feelings and chose to focus on being proud of her work instead of obsessing over numbers. She believes the drop in popularity is partly because the music industry has shifted from radio to streaming, and partly because a public lawsuit changed how people view her. Above all, Lizzo says this album is about reclaiming her identity and telling her own story on her own terms.

FAQ

Q: Did Lizzo’s album Bitch fail?
A: By sales numbers, yes — it sold only 2,649 copies in its first week and didn’t chart on the Billboard 200. But Lizzo says she’s still proud of the music and what it means to her personally.

Q: What was the lawsuit about?
A: In 2023, Lizzo’s former dancers filed a lawsuit accusing her of workplace misconduct, including assault, false imprisonment, and sexual harassment. Lizzo has strongly denied all allegations, and the case is still ongoing.

Q: Why does Lizzo think her album didn’t sell well?
A: She believes two main things: (1) the music industry has shifted from radio to streaming, which changed her reach, and (2) the public lawsuit damaged her career and how fans connect with her.

Q: Is Lizzo okay after this disappointment?
A: Yes! She went through a tough few days but worked through it by meditating, praying, and reframing how she measures success. She says she’s proud of herself and happy the music is out in the world.

Q: What is the album Bitch about?
A: Lizzo says it’s about reclaiming her identity — taking back control of her own story after a lot of outside forces tried to define who she is.