Captivating Reads About Billie Holiday

It’s been more than 60 years since Billie Holiday’s untimely death at the age of 44, but the iconic jazz singer’s music feels as timely as ever. It’s especially true with two film releases focused on the pioneering Black entertainer: the December 2020 documentary, Billie, as well as the February 2021 biopic, The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Inspired by the films, we set out to explore some of the incredible, often devastating, and never dull portraits of Holiday’s life. Read on for a glimpse at the hounding she received at the hands of federal drug agents; her origin story, told in her own words; and how she helped define the very concept of what a protest song could be. A small delight: the children’s book about Mister, her beloved dog.