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Billie Was a Black Woman

By: Rebecca Carroll, Paramount Audio
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Entertainment & Celebrities
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Episodes
  • Trailer: Billie Was a Black Woman

    Trailer: Billie Was a Black Woman
    Mar 8 2021

    Billie Was a Black Woman is a four-part podcast series that refracts Black womanhood through the prism of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday - widely considered to be one of the most innovative artists of all time. In partnership with the Lee Daniels film, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, in each episode acclaimed host and writer Rebecca Carroll dives into different facets of Billie’s life and legacy, exploring what it means to defy the narrow categorizations thrust upon Black artists, Black bodies, and Black women today.

    The full series will release on April 7, 2021.

    Billie Was a Black Woman was produced by Spoke Media in coordination with Paramount Audio.

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    2 mins
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  • Episode 1: Andra & Billie

    Episode 1: Andra & Billie
    Apr 7 2021

    Jazz legend Billie Holiday meant a lot of things to a lot of people. But at the end of the day, Billie was a Black woman. Academy Award nominated actress and Grammy-award winning singer Andra Day, who plays the iconic songstress in the film The United States vs. Billie Holiday, talks with host Rebecca Carroll about what it was like to inhabit Billie’s universe, the power of her most famous song “Strange Fruit,” and the fullness of her complicated humanity.

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    33 mins
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  • Episode 2: Music as Salvation

    Episode 2: Music as Salvation
    Apr 7 2021
    For Billie Holiday, music extended far beyond the performance - it was who she was, what she became, and how she navigated an often hostile world. Host Rebecca Carroll sits down with multi-platinum recording artist Mariah Carey to discuss her deep affinity with Billie, and with The United States vs. Billie Holiday director Lee Daniels about the responsibility of bringing the singer’s story to life.
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    23 mins
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Interview: 'Billie Was a Black Woman' Complexifies the Legendary Jazz Artist Who Was Ahead of Her Time

Billie Was a Black Woman
'...The very first thing I thought was, This is a moment for Black women.'
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  • Billie Was a Black Woman
  • '...The very first thing I thought was, This is a moment for Black women.'

About the Creator, Writer, and Host

Rebecca Carroll is a writer, creative consultant, editor-at-large, and host of the podcast Come Through with Rebecca Carroll: 15 essential conversations about race in a pivotal year for America (WNYC Studios). Most recently, she was a cultural critic at WNYC, where she also developed a broad array of multi-platform content, and a critic-at-large for the Los Angeles Times. Her writing has been published in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Essence, the Guardian and New York Magazine, among numerous other publications, and she is the author of several books about race in America, including the award-winning Sugar in the Raw: Voices of Young Black Girls in America. Her latest book, Surviving the White Gaze: A Memoir, was published this month, and has been optioned by MGM Studios and Killer Films with Rebecca attached to adapt and executive produce for TV.

Featured Article: The Best Podcasts by Black Creators to Listen to in 2023


Whether focused on literature, family, mental health, history, or the arts, these listens represent just a few of the best podcasts created and hosted by Black writers, thinkers, journalists, comedians, and trailblazers. Led by some of the most powerful voices in media, these can’t-miss listens demonstrate just how outstanding Black voices capture the particular challenges and extraordinary accomplishments of African Americans.

Featured Article The Best Podcasts by Black Creators to Listen to in 2023

What listeners say about Billie Was a Black Woman

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This is something everyone needs in their life

Enlightening book. I knew I grew up loving Billie, but I didn't know what a force of nature she was. She was a martyr of her time and I'm honored to share her name...

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Profile Image for Kendra

absolutely fabulous and enlightening!

this podcast had me riveted and hanging on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know more and more about the artist, The Legend, Lady Day! I cannot wait to see the United State versus Billie Holiday

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3 people found this helpful

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Profile Image for Mamaw deuce

Billie Holiday

loved it great insight about Billie Holiday and the movie and the actors. it also help clarify the movie.

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Profile Image for Michele floyd

amazing

I loved this. the only thing I didn't appreciate you assuming that if your white you just listened and didn't feel the pain of what strange fruit was saying. that's in it self a racist way of thinking. if your white you don't feel

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A must-listen!

This was a truly beautiful, affirming experience. It was exactly what I needed, right now. Surprisingly, found all the interviews relatable and insightful — though very different. The best interviews were by far the ones of Angela Davis and Laverne Cox. I came away with renewed appreciation for the richness of our experiences and a greater admiration of Billie Holiday. Go ahead; listen to the entire podcast series. You’ll be glad that you did!

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Too strong for white man’s history of lies.

The strongest of the strong. How much strength to have the baby of your rapist and still love the baby. Imagine that!

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Excellent examination of the trauma and triumph of Lady Day and Black Women

Excellent dissertation and deconstruction of Billie Holiday’s life and legacy as well as the Black Women’s experience in America. This resonated with me because I carry the trauma of my pain as well as those of my traumatized ancestors.

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Profile Image for Doug

eye opening

I liked this podcast and am looking forward to viewing the movie.
I was aware of Billie Holiday but this perspective on her life and career made me see her in a different way.

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Profile Image for Aj7805

Powerful & Relatable

A powerful glimpse into the life of Billie Holiday. I already planned to watch The United States vs. Billie Holiday, and after listening to this podcast, I want to see it much sooner than originally planned. This is a beautiful overview of the strength of Billie Holiday and the role her experiences played in the music she shared with the world. A relatable examination of Billie's life as a Black Woman in the US, and an inspiration for us to continue in exerting the strength, determination, and defiance instilled long ago.

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Profile Image for Diane Miller

Too Much

song about Jesus: hate buried Love, but Love arose again. hate tries, but always fails.

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