Pacer graphic by Bethany Collins, photos belong to their original copyright holders
March is Women’s History Month, which commemorates the contributions and achievements of women in history and modern society. My colleague, Bethany Collins, and I have collaborated on a list highlighting ten trailblazing musicians that have impacted music in both the past and present for Women’s History Month.
Past
Dolly Parton: Born Jan. 19, 1946, Dolly Rebecca Parton is a very influential American singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist. Born in rural Tennessee to a very poor family, she rose to fame in the 1960s with her country music hits. Parton’s career spans decades and includes numerous chart-topping songs, such as Jolene and I Will Always Love You. She is known for her distinctive voice, larger-than-life persona and extravagant style. Beyond music, Parton is celebrated for her philanthropic efforts, notably her Imagination Library program, which promotes childhood literacy by providing free books to children.
Loretta Lynn: The late great Loretta Lynn was born on April 14, 1932. Born to humble beginnings, Lynn’s authentic voice and honest lyrics resonated with audiences, earning her the title “Queen of Country Music.” Her breakthrough song Coal Miner’s Daughter catapulted her to fame in the 1960s, and she continued to produce hit after hit throughout her career, including You Ain’t Woman Enough and Fist City. Lynn’s music often explored themes of female empowerment, love and the struggles of rural life.
Tina Turner: Rightfully deemed as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” the late phenomenal Anna Mae Bullock (professionally known as Tina Turner) was born on Nov. 26, 1939 to a hardworking family in rural Tennessee. She rose to fame after touring with Ike Turner and his band, Kings of Rhythm, in the early 1960s. The band would soon be renamed as The Ike and Tina Turner Revue, and they would release the critically acclaimed hit, “Proud Mary“. After her fallout with Ike, Bullock would soon find success as a solo artist with hits such as What’s Love Got To Do With It, Let’s Stay Together and The Best. Despite her struggles that is showcased in her music, she became one of the most electrifying performers of all time.
Sade: Helen Folasade Adu CBE (known professionally as Sade) was born on Jan. 16, 1959. The Nigerian born singer is widely known for her sultry and melodic vocals that artists today, such as Snoh Aalegra, are heavily influenced by. Adu rose to fame in the late 1980s when she joined the U.K. based band, Pride, as a background singer, which led to Epic Records discovering her. Eventually another band would be formed as Sade with Adu as the main singer. The band saw huge success with hits such as The Sweetest Taboo, Ordinary Love and Smooth Operator.
Nicki Minaj: Born on Dec. 8, 1982, Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty was born in Trinidad and is often referred to as the Queen of Rap. Although she released mixtapes in 2007, her rise to stardom would come from releasing her debut studio album, Pink Friday, in 2010. She is widely known for her animated rap style, love for pink, and alter egos such as Roman Zolanski. Minaj dominated the charts with hits such as Super Bass, Anaconda and Barbie World with Ice Spice. She heavily impacted the female rap scene during a time when female rappers weren’t as prominent as they are now. Despite the fact that Minaj has been in controversy lately, her artistry and achievements in the music industry are undeniable.
Present
Taylor Swift: Born on Dec. 13, 1989 in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Taylor Allison Swift rose to fame in the mid-2000s with her country-pop crossover hits, captivating audiences with her heartfelt lyrics and relatable storytelling. Her self-titled debut album and subsequent releases, including Fearless and Speak Now, propelled her to superstardom, earning her numerous awards and accolades. Swift’s music often delves into themes of love, heartbreak and personal growth, resonating with fans of all ages. Throughout her career, she has continually evolved her sound, transitioning from country to pop with albums like 1989 and Reputation. Beyond music, Swift is known for her advocacy for artists’ rights and her openness on social and political issues.
Ariana Grande: Born on June 26, 1993 in Boca Raton, Florida, Ariana Grande-Butera gained fame from her stent on Broadway but became notable when she joined the cast of the Nickelodeon show Victorious. She delved into music in 2013 with the release of her debut album, Yours Truly, which featured the hit single, The Way. Known for her powerful vocals and four-octave range, Grande has since become one of the best-selling and most streamed artists globally, and she has helped change the way of the music industry with her contributions.
NewJeans: Debuting on July 21, 2022 under ADOR and Hybe Lables, NewJeans consists of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein. NewJeans has become known for being the K-pop group that has reached a billion streams on Spotify the fastest. This record was previously held by label mates BTS who got the record in 409 days, while NewJeans got it in 219 days. The girls have also become very popular on TikTok, having three of their songs used in a combined one million videos, while their hashtag on the app has been viewed over 13 billion times. The group has yet to meet their first anniversary, but it’s safe to say that NewJeans is rising to be one of the biggest trailblazers in music today.
Megan Thee Stallion: Megan Pete (professionally known as Megan Thee Stallion), the resident Hot Girl, was born on Feb. 15, 1995 in San Antonio, Texas. As a child, she was inspired by her late mother, Holly Thomas, to take rap more seriously as she accompanied her mother to the studio. After Pete went viral for her covers to rap songs and mixtapes, she got her big break in 2017 with her EP, “Tina Snow,” which introduced her alter ego of the same name. Pete’s music speaks heavily on confidence and female empowerment. She has garnered worldwide success with hits such as Savage, along with the remix featuring Beyoncé, Hot Girl Summer and Captain Hook. She has become one of the most recognizable rappers in the modern era.
RAYE: Breakout artist Rachel Agatha Keen (professionally known as RAYE) was born on Oct. 24, 1997 in South London. She was brought up in a family of musicians, which led to her learning a host of instruments such as the piano, cello, flute and guitar. Keen gained fame as a singer, songwriter and record producer, as she has written hits for artists such as Ellie Goulding, Charli XCX and Hailee Steinfeld. In 2023, her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues, rose to the charts along with her hit single Escapism, featuring artist 070 Shake, which was met with huge success on TikTok. The independent artist is definitely a powerhouse in her own right as she won the most BRIT awards this year with a record breaking win of six total awards.
