This Is for My Girls

Album: Single release only (2016)
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Songfacts®:

  • During her time at the White House, Michelle Obama has led the Let Girls Learn movement and its 62 Million Girls initiative, a campaign targeted towards helping millions of adolescent girls around the world complete their education. This female-empowerment anthem was written for her by Diane Warren, whose previous credits include "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing". It was released on March 15, 2016 ahead of the First Lady's keynote speech at the SXSW festival about her Let Girls Learn initiative.
  • Vocalists featured on the all-star anthem include Missy Elliott, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Rowland, Janelle Monae, Glee actress Lea Michele, Disney star Zendaya, teenage Motown artist Jadagrace, and Beyoncé protégés Chloe & Halle. "It's kind of like 'We Are The World ' meets 'Lady Marmalade' with these strong voices and strong women," Warren told Billboard magazine. "When was the last time you heard a song like this or a record that had this many amazing divas on it? I'm really proud."
  • Clarkson was the last singer added to the song. "It happened so fast - literally Kelly Clarkson was singing her part in Nashville while we were almost mastering it," Warren recalled. "So we dropped her vocals in. It was that crazy."
  • All proceeds go to the Let Girls Learn Fund as every one of the featured artists waived their fees.
  • Kelly Rowland explained during a Boys & Girls Club event in New York how she came to be on the track. "Diane Warren actually called me, told me exactly what it was for and I was like, 'I'm in'," she said, as reported by Billboard magazine. "It was just that simple. I love Diane Warren."

    "I am a huge, huge Michelle Obama supporter," Rowland continued. "If she sneezes on something, I want to be right there for it 'cause I feel like she's just a woman of purpose, intelligence, who stands by her word, and she's just amazing. She's right up there with God."

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