Nina Simone: The High Priestess of Soul Who Took No Prisoners

Celebrating Women's History Month with a badass a day.

When we talk about legends who didn’t just bend the rules but outright shattered them, Nina Simone is a name that demands to be at the top of the list. Known as the High Priestess of Soul, Simone’s voice was the sound of rebellion, her piano playing was a masterclass in genius, and her entire existence was a masterclass in refusing to shut up and play nice. To call her a singer is like calling a hurricane a light breeze—technically true, but nowhere near the full story.

Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in 1933, Simone’s journey to iconic status started early. At just 12, she gave a piano recital at her local church, only to stop mid-performance when her parents were forced to give up their seats for white audience members. She refused to play until her parents were allowed back to the front. That same defiance would define the rest of her life and career.

Simone trained as a classical pianist with dreams of becoming the first Black concert pianist in America. But when she was denied a schola…