AustLit

Helen Reddy was an Australian (later naturalised American) singer, actress, and activist. She published her autobiography in 2005 and was later the subject of a biopic.

Reddy was born into a show-business family, and educated at Tintern Grammar, but had already joined her parents on the vaudeville circuit, where she began performing at age four. She was the sister of Toni Lamond and aunt of Tony Sheldon.

Her career flourished internationally in the 1970s, a period when fifteen of her singles reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six made the Top 10 and three reached No. 1, including her signature song 'I Am Woman.'

Reddy was also the first artist to win the American Music Award for 'Favorite Pop/Rock Female' artist, the first Australian to win a Grammy Award and the first to have three No. 1 hits in the same year.

A biopic, named for her greatest hit, was released in 2019. Helen Reddy died in 2020.

Australian Writing and Rock Music affiliation: vocals.