Part of Music City Mondays
Mon, May 5 at 8:00pm: Post-screening discussion with director Varda Bar-Kar, moderated by NPR Music critic and correspondent Ann Powers | BUY TICKETS
Janis Ian had one of the most remarkable debuts in modern music history. At the age of 13, she began performing her original songs at New York City gigs alongside future legends. From there, the precocious teenager turned fearless singer-songwriter built a career with many chapters. Over six decades (including a lengthy and recent stint in Nashville), Janis Ian gained 10 Grammy nominations in eight different categories, saw her music recorded by such luminaries as Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Cher, and overcame homophobia, misogyny and a life-threatening illness to produce an indelible body of work that continues to draw audiences around the globe. Featuring Joan Baez, David Davidson, Arlo Guthrie, Laurie Metcalf, Jean Smart, Lily Tomlin, as well as Bluebird Cafe owner Amy Kurland and Nashville-area music journalists Ann Powers and Robert K. Oermann.
“Bar-Kar tells this tale of love, loss, and life-altering lyricism with the same tenderness of Ian’s songwriting. Even if you’re not a fan, you might be moved to tears.” —Audra Heinrichs, Rolling Stone
