The Female Rock Stars That Rock My World

In 1971, I saved all my allowance money for a month so I could buy Cher’s record, Cher (later retitled Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves). Records were about $4.98, so this purchase wasn’t something I did lightly. Up until then, I’d only bought Donny Osmond, Jackson 5, and The Partridge Family records. I felt so grown-up buying Cher’s album.

Since it didn’t have liner notes (a crime!) I stared long and hard at the cover and thought I saw, partially hidden by the hair hanging in her face, someone who was wise beyond her years. Someone who could empathize with what I was going through as a preteen.

Cher, now 80, continues to teach us that if something in your life isn’t working, don’t be afraid of changing it. She said in an X post that she deals with aging by refusing to recognize it. Her instincts are correct; there’s no need to fixate on your age, especially if you don’t let it hold you back.

Three friends of mine have met Cher and have found her to be down-to-earth, with a self-deprecating sense of humor. Cher has also been open about her panic attacks and anxiety as she’s had terrible stage fright for her entire career. She pushes through it. Just knowing the courage it takes for Cher to get on stage helps me to push past my own fear.

I was in high school when I discovered Heart. Both of the Wilson sisters are incredible musicians, but I’ve always related to Ann more. She’s dealt with cancer, broken bones, surgeries, addiction issues, panic attacks, and, like most women in entertainment, pressure to conform to certain beauty standards. I admire how nothing can keep her down — if she has to perform in a wheelchair after breaking her wrist, so be it.

One Heart song that I’ve been singing in my head since 1978 is Dog and Butterfly, with lines like “I’m getting older, the world is getting colder.” It's ironic that I started singing it when I was 17. But this song by Heart has always had messages of resilience and acceptance of the different stages of life. It's about not giving up on one’s dreams, even if they might seem stupid or unattainable.

When I was growing up in the 1970s, women were becoming more outspoken and standing up for themselves, but the idea that girls should look pretty and keep their opinions to themselves was still strong. My mother frequently admonished me with “Keep your voice down.” The older I got, the more I wanted my voice to be heard, and so when I heard Pat Benatar’s Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and later saw her perform, I was blown away by how strong, fierce, and uncompromising she was. She teaches me that you don’t have to do the same things you did before; you can pivot and do something else. Whenever I hear a Pat Benatar song, I think of it as a challenge to raise my voice so I can be heard and to mix things up a bit, so I don’t get bored and complacent in my life.

Earlier this year, I saw Cyndi Lauper perform in Las Vegas. Her voice was still strong, her personality authentic, and her movements were like those of a much younger woman. She got her whole body down on the stage and then popped right up again without pause. I was amazed — I’m seven years younger than her, and I can’t do that. Cyndi Lauper has never been afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in. I loved every minute of the show, and I interpreted her message as older doesn’t mean over; it means using what you still have, doing what you love, and constantly expanding your mind.

I can’t talk about my personal role models without returning to Stevie Nicks. All these years later, I’m just as obsessed with Stevie as I ever was. When I’m battling internal ageism, self-doubt, and negativity, and I hear a Stevie song, I’m instantly in a better mood, and things don’t feel so bleak. For my 65th birthday, my good friend Lauren gave me a banner with this quote from Stevie, “Don’t be a lady, Be a legend.” I take this advice every day.

Age has not daunted any of the women I’ve mentioned here, and there are so many more who inspire me to keep believing in the power of me. I’ve learned a lot in 65 years, weathered loss and tough times, but these rock stars prove that we all still have more to learn and create, and that we can keep rocking until the very end.

Which of the above is YOUR favorite? Let us know in the comments below.