'I Am Woman' singer Helen Reddy dies at 78, fans pay tribute to feminist icon's 'beautiful and strong' voice
Australian singer Helen Reddy has died at the age of 78 in Los Angeles. Helen is known as an iconic pop-rock vocalist of the 1970s and 1980s and for hit songs such as 'I Am Woman', 'I Don't Know How To Love Him', 'Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady' and many more.
The cause of her death has not been disclosed but the news was confirmed by Reddy's children, Traci Donat and Jordan Sommers, in a statement of her official Facebook page in the late hours of September 29. Their message read, "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Helen Reddy, on the afternoon of September 29, 2020, in Los Angeles."
"She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and a truly formidable woman. Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever," Donat and Sommers added.
In 2015, Reddy was diagnosed with dementia and has since been living in a nursing home in LA for retired Hollywood talent, according to The Daily Mail. Media commentator Peter Ford said on 6PR: "She has been in not great health for several years now. You may be aware that dementia struck her about three years ago and she's been getting progressively worse."
The news of her passing has drawn much love from fans on Twitter. "Sleep In Paradise Beautiful One," said a fan while another wrote, "RIP to an icon..." One fan said, "I am really saddened to hear the news of #HelenReddy. A truly amazing vocalist who will be truly missed." Another fan shared, "May she rest in peace and power and may her memory be a blessing. Her voice was so beautiful and strong."
"What a very sad day indeed. RIP the legendary Helen Reddy. Superb musician, vocalist, actress and feminist icon. Here she is on the set of PETE'S DRAGON (1977). Think I will give that a watch tonight and cry. Thank you, Ms Reddy," added another fan.
I am really saddened to hear the news of #HelenReddy. A truly amazing vocalist who will be truly missed.
— Mark Garrison (@MarkGarrison1) September 30, 2020
May she rest in peace and power and may her memory be a blessing. Her voice was so beautiful and strong.
— GzG (@therealgloria) September 30, 2020
What a very sad day indeed. RIP the legendary Helen Reddy. Superb musician, vocalist, actress and feminist icon. Here she is on the set of PETE'S DRAGON (1977). Think I will give that a watch tonight and cry. Thank you, Ms. Reddy. pic.twitter.com/5TpreVpvfc
— Lee Gambin (@lee_gambin) September 30, 2020
The news of her passing comes just off the back of her biopic 'I Am Woman', which chronicles the life of the singer and trailblazing feminist icon. After arriving in New York City from Australia as a 24-year-old single mother with her three-year-old daughter and just over $200 dollars, Reddy became a huge star with her hit singles and as a crucial part of the feminist movement in the 1970s.
The film also delves into her relationship with the author of Lillian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia named Roxon and her manager Wald who was known to manage other big names such as Sylvester Stallone. Reddy's move to the US saw her overcoming years of struggle and becoming the world's top-selling female singer in 1973 and 1974.
The beloved singer won a Grammy Award for her song 'I Am Woman', for which she was the first Australian woman to win one after opera singer Joan Sutherland. Her career would see her branching out into acting and hosting her own prime-time television variety show, 'The Helen Reddy Show'. In 1975, she received a Golden Globe nomination for the drama thriller film 'Airport 1975'.