How Women Made Music

Edited by Alison Fensterstock and Introduction by Ann Powers.

Drawn from NPR Music’s acclaimed, groundbreaking series Turning the Tables, the definitive book on the vital role of Women in Music—from Beyoncé to Odetta, Taylor Swift to Joan Baez, Joan Jett to Dolly Parton—featuring archival interviews, essays, photographs, and illustrations.

Turning the Tables, launched in 2017, has revolutionized recognition of female artists, whether it be in best album lists or in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music brings this impressive history and fascinating reshaping to the page and includes material draws from more than fifty years of NPR’s coverage of great musical heroes and intriguing creators. This book is a must-have for music fans, songwriters, feminist historians, and those interested in how artists think and work, including: 

• Joan Baez talking about nonviolence as a musical principle in 1971
• Dolly Parton’s favorite song and the story behind it 
• Patti Smith describing art as her “jealous mistress” in 1974
• Nina Simone, in 2001, explaining how she developed the edge in her voice as a tool against racism.
• Taylor Swift talking about when she had no idea if her musical career might work
• Odetta on how shifting from classical music to folk allowed her to express her fury over Jim Crow

 This incomparable hardcover volume is a vital record of history destined to become a classic and a great gift for any music fan or creative thinker.

Full list of the 143 featured artists:

Bessie Smith Dolly Parton Shania Twain Linda Ronstadt Jennifer Lopez Chaka Khan MC Sha-Rock Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton Detroit Cobras Bangles Amy Winehouse Selena Mahalia Jackson Rhiannon Giddens Odetta Mavis Staples Tracy Chapman Buffy Sainte-Marie Raye Zaragoza Joan Baez Miriam Makeba Diamanda Galas Madonna Sinead O'Connor Hurray for the Riff Raff Solange Knowles Jean Grae Ani DiFranco Nina Simone Laura Nyro Alanis Morissette Ronettes Joan Jett Runaways Lorde Go-Go's Hayley Williams Spice Girls Beyonce Fiona Apple Taylor Swift Britney Spears Janet Jackson Shangri-La's Mary Weiss Alicia Keys Donna Summer Debbie Harry Katy Perry Avril Lavigne Carly Rae Jepsen Cyndi Lauper Peaches Celia Cruz Angelique Kidjo Lady Gaga Lizzo Loretta Lynn Megan Thee Stallion Mercedes Sosa Patti Smith Chrissie Hynde Sleater Kinney Etta James Whitney Houston Janis Joplin Sheryl Crow Roberta Flack Marian Anderson Tina Turner Mallia Franklin and the women of Parliament Funkadelic X-Ray Spex Heart Raincoats Bikini Kill Hole Ella Fitzgerald Cecile McLorin Salvant PJ Harvey Siouxsie & the Banshees St. Vincent Bonnie Raitt Sheila E Karen Carpenter Tori Amos Suzanne Ciani Missy Elliott Alice Coltrane Barbra Streisand Meg White Esperanza Spalding Maybelle Carter Sarah Vaughan Terri Lyne Carrington Joni Mitchell Janelle Monae Bjork Laurie Anderson Yoko Ono Grace Jones Nicki Minaj Rihanna Billie Eilish MIA Kate Bush Gal Costa Carole King Rickie Lee Jones Mia X Gillian Welch Bobbie Gentry Maddy Prior & June Tabor (Silly Sisters) Lucinda Williams Queen Latifah Lana Del Rey SOPHIE Liz Phair Indigo Girls Mary J Blige Annie Lennox Melissa Etheridge Joanna Newsom Irma Thomas Marianne Faithfull Stevie Nicks Carly Simon Cassandra Wilson Sister Rosetta Tharpe Aretha Franklin Skeeter Davis Amy Rigby Margo Price Tammy Wynette boygenius Robyn Diana Ross Shakira Mariah Carey Gangsta Boo Aaliyah Billie Holiday Dionne Warwick Lauryn Hill 

Full list of the 55 audio excerpts:

Joan Baez Tammy Wynette Patti Smith Carly Simon Marianne Faithfull Tracy Chapman Roberta Flack Carole King Kate Bush Mercedes Sosa Diamanda Galas Lucinda Williams Liz Phair Etta James Tori Amos Melissa Etheridge Joni Mitchell Loretta Lynn Nina Simone Dolly Parton Donna Summer Sheila E Gillian Welch Donna Summer Miriam Makeba Madonna Loretta Lynn Alice Coltrane Odetta Joan Jett Joan Jett Mary J Blige Cassandra Wilson Mariah Carey Chaka Khan Mary Weiss Queen Latifah Shakira Queen Latifah Sinead O'Connor Dionne Warwick Alanis Morrissette Taylor Swift Janet Jackson (Danyel Smith) Rickie Lee Jones Alicia Keys Mavis Staples Solange Cecile McLorin Salvant on Ella Fitzgerald Angelique Kidjo on Celia Cruz Lizzo Kathleen Hanna Linda Ronstadt Fiona Apple Sha Rock

Full list of the 10 illustrators:

Dame Darcy Nicole Rifkin Margaret Flatley Jess Rotter Maggie Thrash Gabrielle Bell Rashida Chavis Mayya Agopova Jazmin Anita Asiah Fulmore