A four-time Grammy Award-winning artist, singer Tracy Chapman is best known for her hit single, Give Me One Reason. Interested in music from a young age, she learned to play multiple instruments as a child. She made her major-stage debut in 1985 and soon became a sensational hit. She is also known for her social activism.
Singer, songwriter, musician, and activist Joan Baez has been active in the music world for over six decades. She emerged as a major musical figure in the counterculture era of the 1960s. Her music encompasses various genres like pop, folk-rock, country, and gospel music. She is involved in civil rights, human rights, and environmental activism as well.
![Jewel Jewel](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jewel-9052-1.jpg)
Joni Mitchell is one of the most popular Canadian singer-songwriters. Widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, her songs reflect her feelings about joy, romance, disillusionment, and confusion. Apart from being a musician, Joni is also a visual artist who designs most of her album covers. In fact, she calls herself a painter derailed by circumstance.
![Colbie Caillat Colbie Caillat](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/colbie-caillat-41041-1.jpg)
![Regina Spektor Regina Spektor](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/regina-spektor-1.jpg)
![Kim Carnes Kim Carnes](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kim-carnes-1.jpg)
![Sharon Van Etten Sharon Van Etten](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sharon-van-etten-1.jpg)
![Gillian Welch Gillian Welch](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/gillian-welch-1.jpg)
![Nanci Griffith Nanci Griffith](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/nanci-griffith-52005-1.jpg)
Exene Cervenka soared to fame as a singer of the punk rock band X. She has also held exhibitions for her mixed media art, published books, and released a spoken word album. She has also expressed her views as a conspiracy theorist named Christine Notmyrealname, on social media.
![Kathy Mattea Kathy Mattea](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kathleen-alice-mattea.jpg)
![Maria Muldaur Maria Muldaur](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/maria-muldaur-1.jpg)
![Joy Williams Joy Williams](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joy-williams-1.jpg)
Joy Williams established herself as a talented contemporary Christian artist before forming the Grammy-winning folk duo The Civil Wars with John Paul White. She had apparently rejected a recording offer at 14 to enjoy her childhood. She is best known for her chartbusting tracks such as From This Valley.
![Iris DeMent Iris DeMent](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/iris-dement-11440-1.jpg)
![Judee Sill Judee Sill](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/judee-sill-19786-1.jpg)
![Jill Gibson Jill Gibson](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jill-gibson-20001-1.jpg)
![Suzy Bogguss Suzy Bogguss](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/suzy-bogguss-1.jpg)
![Norma Tanega Norma Tanega](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/norma-tanega-119890-1.jpg)
![Odetta Odetta](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/odetta-30472-1.jpg)
![Mimi Fariña Mimi Fariña](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mimi-faria-1.jpg)
![Lori McKenna Lori McKenna](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lori-mckenna-1.jpg)
![Peggy Seeger Peggy Seeger](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/peggy-seeger-1.jpg)
![Anais Mitchell Anais Mitchell](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/anais-mitchell-1.jpg)
![Kate Wolf Kate Wolf](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kate-wolf-1.jpg)
![Kimya Dawson Kimya Dawson](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kimya-dawson-1.jpg)
![Elizabeth Cotten Elizabeth Cotten](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/elizabeth-cotten-1.jpg)
![Dar Williams Dar Williams](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/dar-williams-1.jpg)
![Laura Veirs Laura Veirs](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/laura-veirs-1.jpg)
![Jean Ritchie Jean Ritchie](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jean-ritchie-1.jpg)
![Ronnie Gilbert Ronnie Gilbert](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ronnie-gilbert-1.jpg)
![Okay Kaya Okay Kaya](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/okay-kaya-124196-1.jpg)
Brooklyn-born Norwegian-origin singer-actor Kaya Wilkins, better known as Okay Kaya, mostly sings about her own mental trauma, sexuality, and mental health. Known for hit tracks such as Psych Ward and Dance Like You, she has also starred in the Norwegian supernatural thriller Thelma. She considers songwriting her therapy.
![Vienna Teng Vienna Teng](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/vienna-teng-120043-1.jpg)
![Leyla McCalla Leyla McCalla](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/leyla-mccalla-105929-1.jpg)
![Chiwoniso Maraire Chiwoniso Maraire](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/chiwoniso-maraire-1.jpg)
![Lydia Mendoza Lydia Mendoza](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lydia-mendoza-1.jpg)
![Christine Lavin Christine Lavin](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/christine-lavin-107958-1.jpg)
![Susan Reed Susan Reed](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/susan-reed-106107-1.jpg)
![Meklit Hadero Meklit Hadero](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/meklit-hadero-89051-1.jpg)
![Anne Hills Anne Hills](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/anne-hills-1.jpg)
Anne Hills is an American singer and songwriter. She is credited with co-founding a record label named Hogeye Music. Over the course of her career, Anne Hills has collaborated with several prominent musicians and bands like Bob Gibson and Tom Paxton. In 2002, Anne Hills was honored by the World Folk Music Association with the prestigious Kate Wolf Memorial Award.