Lena Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was a legendary American singer, actress, and civil rights activist, a trailblazing performer whose elegance and talent challenged the racial barriers of her time. After beginning her career as a teenage chorus girl at the famed Cotton Club, she became one of the first Black performers to sign a long-term contract with a major studio, MGM. She starred in landmark musicals like Cabin in the Sky (1943) and Stormy Weather (1943), the latter of which provided her with a timeless signature song.
Her outspoken activism led to her being blacklisted in Hollywood during the 1950s; undeterred, she returned to her roots as a celebrated nightclub and recording artist and was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in the 1963 March on Washington. Her career reached a triumphant peak with her 1981 one-woman Broadway show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, a powerful, autobiographical performance that earned her a special Tony Award. A recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, Lena Horne is remembered as an indomitable and iconic force in American entertainment.
