A multimillion-record-selling artist was unrecognizable when she was glimpsed bargain hunting in Los Angeles this week.
The R&B songstress, who was a childhood schoolmate of the future Marilyn Manson, shot to fame in 1999 with a smash hit single that also netted her a Grammy.
She has earned a total of five Grammy nods and sold more than 25 million records, collaborating with artists ranging from Natalie Cole to Justin Timberlake.
Although her onstage persona recalls the megawatt glamour of a past era, she was the image of the casual shopper on West Hollywood’s Melrose Avenue on Thursday.
In a comfy ensemble including cutoff sweats and a hoodie, the 57-year-old was glimpsed selecting clothes from the rack at an outdoor stall.
Can you guess who she is?
A multimillion-record-selling artist was unrecognizable when she was glimpsed bargain hunting in Los Angeles this week
She is none other than Macy Gray, whose 1999 single I Try catapulted her to stardom and became a galloping international smash.
Macy, who was born Natalie McIntyre in Ohio and picked her stage name off a mailbox she saw as a child, appeared in bright spirits when she was seen Thursday.
Her outfit included a set of retro red Converse sneakers, plus a textured black cap and a pair of blue shades that gleamed in the sunshine.
Macy’s shopping excursion appeared to have been a success, as she was seen with several items slung over one of her arms at the clothes stall.
Since becoming a celebrity at the turn of the century, Macy has released 10 solo studio albums and a number of hit singles like When I See You.
She has worked with artists ranging from Jeff Beck to Ariana Grande, as well as Fatboy Slim, Erykah Badu, Fergie, will.i.am and Dolly Parton, and she was even included on a remix of a song by the late Afropop legend Fela Kuti.
Her music has been featured in projects as varied as the acclaimed movie 8 Mile and an episode of Ugly Betty, and she has acted in films like Training Day and the first instalment of the Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire.
Macy’s career has not been without controversy, such as when she was booed for forgetting the lyrics to The Star-Spangled Banner while singing at an NFL game, or when she narrowly avoided arrest for swearing onstage in Barbados.
She is none other than Macy Gray, whose 1999 single I Try catapulted her to stardom and became a galloping international smash; pictured performing in Santa Barbara this March
Macy, who was born Natalie McIntyre in Ohio and picked her stage name off a mailbox she saw as a child, appeared in bright spirits when she was seen Thursday
Her shopping excursion appeared to have been a success, as she was seen with several items slung over one of her forearms at the clothes stall
Although her onstage persona recalls the megawatt glamour of a past era, she was the image of the casual shopper on Melrose Avenue on Thursday
About a decade ago, Macy appeared on a Where Are They Now? special hosted by Oprah Winfrey and laid bare her history of substance abuse.
‘My drug use started as a result of being on tour,’ she explained. ‘My crew was from England. All they did was smoke hash all day, and they knew where to get the good ecstasy. So, you start playing with stuff, and then, suddenly, it’s like a crutch.’
Ultimately, she gave up her substance habits after looking in the mirror and seeing the effect her hard living was having on her looks, she shared.
She appeared on The Masked Singer this year, and next Monday she will launch a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of her debut album On How Life Is.
Macy recently revealed that she is preparing to release her first solo album in seven years, hinting she could make a surprise appearance at Glastonbury.
‘We’re probably going to drop a record when we’re in the UK,’ she explained to The Sun, noting she will be stopping in Britain on tour.
‘We’re in the middle of it and we want to drop some songs to see what everybody thinks. Then I will probably be able to put out an album by September.’
