LOS ANGELES (CNS) — After picking up an Oscar on Sunday night and a Grammy in March, singer-songwriter H.E.R. said she is looking toward a possible future EGOT.
Gabriella Wilson, known professionally by the initials that stand for "having everything revealed," is ambitious beyond her 23 years.
"There's absolutely going to be an EGOT in my future, hopefully," she said backstage after claiming the original song Oscar for "Fight For You" from "Judas and the Black Messiah." She will still need an Emmy and a Tony Award to claim an EGOT.
"I'm also super passionate about acting, as well, so you may see me up here as an actress," she said.
But she said the "Black Messiah" film gave her something even more important.
"I feel connected to my roots. I know more about the Black Panthers because of being part of this film, so the education that it gave me, the history that it gave me is just, nothing compares to that," the singer shared.
"I feel like this is for the people. We're literally saying, as long as I'm standing, I'm going to fight for you, and I've been given this platform, and now an Oscar stage, to share a message and to really speak my own truth."
H.E.R. shared the coveted award with Dernst Emile II for music and Tiara Thomas for the lyrics.
"I'm so thankful to be standing next to these two. I'm still speechless ... I'm still pinching myself," H.E.R. said.
Beyond the movement for racial equity, the singer said she was gratified for the chance to show young girls a world of possibility.
"Me just being up there is a message. It's a message to all the young Black and Filipino girls, Black or Filipino, that you can be up here too. What you say matters, what you sing matters, what you play, what you write, it matters. It's a reflection of who we are," she said. "I'm just happy to represent ... I just hope that there's another little girl out there, whoever, going, `I can do that too, I can be up there, too, one day.' "