Born 85 Years Ago Today in Australia, the Pop Icon Who Turned a Song Cher Rejected Into a No. 1 Hit
Helen Reddy, the Australian singer and entertainer, was born in Melbourne on 25 October 1941. She became known for combining a successful music career with acting, television presenting and political activism, and is remembered in particular for her 1975 US chart-topper “Angie Baby”.
Reddy released nine albums that reached the Billboard 200 during the 1970s and appeared in films including *Airport 1975* and *Pete’s Dragon*. She hosted *The Midnight Special* and her own television special, and was the first Australian to present a weekly primetime variety show on an American network. Cher had rejected “Angie Baby” before Reddy recorded it; the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts. Reddy died in 2020, aged 78.
In short
- Helen Reddy was born in Melbourne in 1941.
- “Angie Baby” topped two US charts in 1975.
- Her career spanned music, acting, television and activism.
Explained simply
Helen Reddy was an Australian singer who built her career in the United States during the 1970s. She also acted and presented television programmes, becoming the first Australian to host a weekly primetime variety show on a US network.
Reddy is remembered for songs that reached a wide audience and for her public support of women’s rights. “Angie Baby”, which another singer had turned down, became a major hit for Reddy in 1975, reaching the top of two US charts.