Andra Day parents, Joseph and Delia Batie, raised the multi-hyphenated woman in Southern California. Day’s stage name is inspired by the jazz singer Billie Holiday, who went by Lady Day.
In 2021, Andra even won her first Golden Globe for portraying Billie in the movie The United States vs. Billie Holiday. This was her acting debut, which she initially rejected.
In Super Bowl 58, Andra became the only second black artist to belt out the “Black National Anthem,” “Lift Every Voice And Sing.” The hymn was written by civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson in 1900.
Born Cassandra Monique Batie, Andra began her musical journey in 2015. She released her debut album, Cheers to the Fall. Andra also received an Oscar nomination for her role in The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
Andra Day Parents: Meet Joseph And Delia Batie
The American R&B and soul singer Andra Day was born to parents Joseph and Delia Batie on December 30, 1984. She is one of the four kids of the couple, who raised their children in Southern California.
Previously, in an interview, Andra said singing talent runs in her family. She claimed her mother, Delia, is a good singer but is too shy to belt one out.
Delia was a janitor at the First United Methodist Church in Chula Vista for several years. Delia separated from Joseph when Andra was 17, and later the two divorced.
Today, Delia Batie is a writer and writes children’s books under the name D.A. Battie. In 2021, Delia published a book called I Hear the Wind Blow and Wonder and has since taken her writing career seriously.
Her father runs a backyard grill-building business in Las Vegas. Andra’s mom lives with her in the San Fernando Valley.
2021 was a great year for Andra, who won her first Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture-drama for The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Due to the impact of the COVID pandemic, the nominees were awarded from their homes.
Delia and Joseph were with Andre when her name was announced. The actress/singer later shared the moment her family jumped with joy after her name was called out.
After winning the honor, Andre said, “The people who were in the room with me were first of all my family, my mother and father in the room with me, which makes me just so happy because they put up with me for so long.”
Andra Day Ethnicity
Andra Day comes from an African-American family and grew up in southeast San Diego. It was a place where the majority of the Black population lived.
The singer/actress previously explained how her family came to live on the West Coast. She said the Batie family and others south of Interstate 8 moved there to work in or alongside the Navy’s massive Pacific Fleet.
In 2021, when she won the Golden Globe, she became the only second Black woman to win as the best actress in the motion picture–drama category. The first person was Whoopi Goldberg for her role in The Color Purple in 1986.
Andra’s song, Rise Up, which she wrote after her friend was diagnosed with cancer, in recent years has become an unofficial anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement.
When asked what she thought about it, Andra said she was honored. She also said that the BLM movement meant to stand up against oppression and persecution.
