LISTEN: Andra Day on Why She Supports No Kid Hungry’s Campaign to End Childhood Hunger: ‘It’s of the Utmost Importance’

On the latest installment of the "Daily Variety" podcast, actor and vocalist Andra Day discussed her upcoming participation in a key charitable event. She will perform at the Night Out for No Kid Hungry fundraiser, scheduled for April 11 at Rolling Greens in downtown Los Angeles. The event will feature unique culinary collaborations from renowned chefs such as Shirley Chung, Ludo Lefebvre, Michael Mina, Brooke Williamson, and Alexander Hong.

Day, who rose to fame with her Oscar-winning performance in "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" and her powerful soul vocals, emphasized the critical nature of the cause. She explained her immediate agreement to perform, citing the acute issue of family food insecurity. The singer noted that efforts by No Kid Hungry and its parent organization, Share Our Strength, have become increasingly vital following significant reductions to federal social safety net programs during the previous administration. "Ensuring children have food and that families can sustain themselves is absolutely paramount right now," Day stated. She added that while the evening will be elegant, the primary excitement lies in the outcome—a sentiment echoed by organizers and attendees alike.

Reflecting on her involvement, Day shared that she has recently become an admirer of the organization's comprehensive approach. "I love that they orchestrate events like this to guarantee children are fed. It's a national effort that operates across cultural, societal, and governmental spheres to highlight the importance of food access," she remarked. Food policy experts often point out that such multi-pronged advocacy is essential for creating systemic change, especially when government programs face instability.

Turning to her artistic endeavors, Day revealed that new music is on the horizon, though its final format is still undecided. "I haven't settled on whether it will be a series of EPs or a full album," she said. She is finally entering the studio with producers who are long-time friends, a collaboration they have discussed for years. Additionally, Day recently completed filming for Season 3 of Disney+'s popular series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." "I'm a genuine fan of the show, even before being cast, so I'm incredibly excited for audiences to see it," she noted.

The full conversation with Andra Day is available on the "Daily Variety" podcast, accessible via iHeartPodcasts, Apple Podcasts, Variety’s YouTube Podcast channel, Amazon Music, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.