18 Reasons Why You Should Know The Name Sophie Tucker

Bold, brash, big and beautiful, Sophie Tucker was the biggest performer of her time. And yet, the 21st century seems to have forgotten her. Here's why Sophie Tucker is a star worth remembering...

1. She defied expectations that women should be wives and mothers and not much else.

Sophie ran away from home at 18 to move to New York and pursue a career, even though it wasn’t considered “proper” for women to live or work independently in the 1920s.

2. She is one of the most underrated jazz singers of all time.

Tucker picked up on singing with “hesitation” (rather than on the beat) long before most of her contemporaries.

3. She was super sex-positive for her time, even starting her own “sex school” for ‘Red Hot Mamas’.

Tucker taught women that they could crave and enjoy sex just as much men.

4. She was close friends with 7 of the 11 presidents in her lifetime.

Sophie was known to personally lobby President John F. Kennedy when she had a strong opinion on pending legislation.

5. She handled her own business and marketing.

Sophie was a trusted associate of the Prohibition-era mobsters because they felt that she was as reliable and business-savvy as any man.

6. Sophie was a pioneer of the body acceptance movement long before #ALLBodiesAreBeautiful took off.

Though she lived during the era of flapper girls and pin ups, Sophie relied on her talent and personality to fuel her career.

7. Sophie was a career woman first and foremost, and never settled to be a housewife.

She worked until the very last days of her life.

8. Sophie nurtured a new generation of jazz and vocal greats, heavily influencing the careers of Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lewis.

9. Sophie had three husbands, but decided towards the end of her life that “she didn’t need no man”.

10. Sophie was one of the few prominent Jewish female artists of her era.

As the child of Russian immigrants, Sophie overcame racism, antisemitism, and poverty in order to achieve unimaginable success.

11. She also starred in some of the first movies with sound, the "talkies".

Sophie was a multi-platform artist, appearing onstage, screen, and radio.

12. She was a good friend of Ed Sullivan, and had a tradition of appearing on his show yearly.

Sophie used these television appearances to promote her tour and cement her status as a household name.

13. In 1962, a poll asked Americans what they thought of when they heard the word “Sophie”.

95% responded Tucker.

14. Sophie was a fashion icon, and always went onstage in new outfits, hats, and accessories.

15. She perfected the hairbow before Lady Gaga was even born.

Sophie famously changed her hairstyle every time she began a new tour.

16. Sophie Tucker was racially progressive, and personally defended African-American entertainer Josephine Baker when she was threatened by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

Josephine and Sophie became friends for life.

17. Sophie performed for the troops and encouraged WWII soldiers to write to her and consider her their pinup.

Many received personal letters from Sophie in response.

18. Without Sophie, there might not be Beyonce, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, or Nicki Minaj.

Sophie Tucker paved the way for all the independent, #feminist pop divas of today.

*All images sourced via the film "The Outrageous Sophie Tucker".