Judy Collins

Judy Collins, a singer-songwriter, has been an influential figure in the music industry for over seven decades. Known for her diverse musical tastes, Collins has released a staggering 36 studio albums, nine live albums, and numerous compilations, covering genres from folk and country to pop and rock. Her first charting single, "Hard Lovin' Loser," paved the way for her international prominence with the lead single "Both Sides, Now" from her album "Wildflowers." Her recording of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" marked the zenith of her career. Collins's rendition of "Amazing Grace" was so impactful that it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017. At the age of 80, she scored her first No. 1 album on an American Billboard Chart with "Winter Stories," a duet album with Norwegian singer Jonas Fjeld and Chatham County Line.

Collins's extensive career has not been limited to singing. She has also made significant contributions as a social activist. Her engagements with social activism have been reflected in her music, such as her ballad in honor of Che Guevara, her support for the Yippie movement, and her advocacy for suicide prevention, abortion rights, and the abolition of landmines. In 1987, she released her first memoir, "Trust Your Heart," and has since published a novel, "Shameless," and another memoir, "Singing Lessons: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Hope and Healing."

Over her lengthy career, Collins has received numerous awards and recognitions. She was nominated for an Academy Award for "Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman" in 1975 and has received multiple Grammy Award nominations, winning for "Both Sides, Now" in 1969. In 2009, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2019, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement and most recently, she received the International Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 UK Americana Awards.