Two years ago, I had the honor of introducing musician Rosanne Cash and author, psychologist and neuroscientist Dan Levitin for a joint talk they did at the Kaneko, a multi-platform space for art and intellectual exploration in Omaha. To prepare, I studied up on Rosanne's music, started following her insightful and hilarious Twitter feed, and read her memoir, which was then only recently released, "Composed."
As most of the rest of the world, I had known her very simply as "Johnny Cash's daughter who is also a musician herself." But the more I read and listened and uncovered, I realized that was barely scratching the surface of who she is. She;s insightful, kind, funny, ridiculously talented, and resilient. She is outspoken and protective of her family and friends. Her memoir contains some of the most gorgeous prose and insights I've read. It's really that good; I highly recommend it.
After that talk, Rosanne and I kept in touch via email and Twitter. And being that she's warm and approachable, she was one of the first people I contacted when I had the idea of starting the New Revolutionists. She was incredibly supportive and downright excited. When we finally could nail down a time for her to be photographed, she brought along some of her close friends she nominated for the project: Lizz Winstead (co-creator of the Daily Show), Nancy Franklin (critic for the New Yorker), and author A.M. Homes. It's hard to get one woman of these busy women in a room to sit for a portrait, let alone four. But they met up with photographer Mindy Tucker after one of their regular friend-lunches and looked marvelously powerful in their portraits.
Being that Rosanne is ridiculously busy and yet still generous with her time, she typed out these answers on her phone between flights and soundchecks and performances. She is thoughtful and concise, most certainly a revolutionary among American women, and a real inspiration to me.
Read Laura Burhenn's interview.
