People's University, Forgotten Women, Class 5: Unerased - The Women of Appalachian Music

October 29, 2026
7:00pm - 8:00pm

OCTOBER 29: UNERASED: THE WOMEN OF APPALACHIAN MUSIC

Country, bluegrass, and old-time music often rely on the labor and voices of women, and yet, their male counterparts are often the reason they are remembered—if remembered at all. This lecture will explore influential women throughout the history of these formative American genres, from the footnoted Sally Ann Forrester to the industry “open secret,” Wilma Burgess. The erasure of women from earlier eras contributes to the machismo culture that dominates genre spaces to this day, and we must honor matriarchs who got us to this point in our music's history.

Presenter BECKS LIPSHULTZ is a queer scholar and musician, focusing their work on community engagement and placemaking through music, flood relief, and agriculture. Their scholarship focuses on queer Appalachian music and the importance of music traditions, both in Appalachian communities and in the queer community.