Folk musician Janis Ian won a Grammy in 1975 for her song “At Seventeen,” then won a second in 2013 for Society’s Child, her spoken word autobiography. Born Janis Eddy Fink, Ian learned to play instruments ranging from the guitar to the harpsichord as a child and wrote her first song at age twelve, before composing her first hit single, “Society’s Child,” about an interracial relationship, at thirteen. Ian’s popularity crested in the late 1970s, with musical guest appearances on Saturday Night Live and further Grammy nominations. After breaking her recording contract with CBS in 1982, she spent a decade away from the spotlight, during which she suffered personal and financial setbacks, particularly after industry insiders declared her unmarketable because she was a lesbian. Finally, in 1993 she came out publicly and mortgaged her house to record Breaking Silence, which discussed incest, abuse, and the Holocaust. Defying all expectations, the album became a critical and commercial success. Ian returned to recording an album every couple of years while collaborating with other artists. She also writes science fiction and has published a number of short stories. In 2003, her Toronto wedding to longtime partner Patricia Snyder was the first lesbian marriage highlighted in the New York Times Vows section. As of 2023 she has released 23 albums, with 2022’s The Light at the End of the Line billed as her final. Most of her final tour of 2022 was cancelled due to vocal scarring that has left her unable to sing. The Janis Ian Archives at Berea College—which Ian donated without compensation, only requesting that they remain open to the public—will open in October 2024.