Diving into the story behind Janis Ian’s musical artistry, this documentary charts her beginnings as a precocious teenager who transforms into a groundbreaking voice in folk music and beyond.
American Masters – Janis Ian: Breaking Silence premieres Friday, June 20, 2025 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams on the WXXI app.
Featuring archival footage, animations, mood shots and new interviews, Janis Ian: Breaking Silence follows the artist’s life, showing how her politically active parents influenced her songwriting, particularly the song “Society’s Child,” which cemented her place as a stalwart in the folk genre. As Ian’s growing fame came with pressures to conform to the music industry’s expectations of young female artists and took an emotional toll on her, Ian continued to hone her craft and stay true to her evolving artistic voice. Her Grammy Award-winning record “At Seventeen” tapped into the pain of isolation, struggles with self-worth, and the angst of a generation, solidifying her as one of the most celebrated female songwriters of the 20th century.
Along with her musical accomplishments spanning several decades, the film gives an intimate look into Ian’s relationships and her struggles to hide her sexual identity before coming out as a lesbian during the release of her 1993 album “Breaking Silence.” Janis Ian: Breaking Silence made its world premiere at the DOC NYC Festival in November 2024 and has a star-studded lineup of interviews including Lily Tomlin, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Jean Smart, Laurie Metcalf and more.
Photo: Janis Ian performing at the piano, 1976
Credit: Peter Cunningham