Sophie Tucker
PerformerName
Sophie Tucker
About
Sofia Kalish, known by her stage name “Sophie Tucker” was born to Jewish-Ukrainian immigrant parents. She was a singer, comedian, and actress. Tucker made a name for herself on the Vaudeville stage, even performing in blackface.
Tucker defied popular assumptions about how women should look and act on stage. Perhaps one of the first popular artists to embrace her plus-size physique, she leaned into the critics of her body by performing songs like "I Don't Want to Get Thin" and "Nobody Loves a Fat Girl, But Oh How a Fat Girl Can Love." Furthermore, Tucker’s act included performing songs with overt sexual overtones, which was not considered appropriate for women to do. She went by the nickname “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.”
Tucker was a strategic performer who adapted to the changing times to stay relevant. According to her biographer, Laura Sklaroff, Tucker began touring internationally in the 1920s and gained worldwide popularity. She would then incorporate stories from her travels into her shows in the United States, and premiere new works. Her transnational appeal propelled her career.
Tucker defied popular assumptions about how women should look and act on stage. Perhaps one of the first popular artists to embrace her plus-size physique, she leaned into the critics of her body by performing songs like "I Don't Want to Get Thin" and "Nobody Loves a Fat Girl, But Oh How a Fat Girl Can Love." Furthermore, Tucker’s act included performing songs with overt sexual overtones, which was not considered appropriate for women to do. She went by the nickname “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.”
Tucker was a strategic performer who adapted to the changing times to stay relevant. According to her biographer, Laura Sklaroff, Tucker began touring internationally in the 1920s and gained worldwide popularity. She would then incorporate stories from her travels into her shows in the United States, and premiere new works. Her transnational appeal propelled her career.
Role(s)
Performer
Birth date
January 13, 1844
Death date
February 9, 1966
Genre
Sofia Kalish, known by her stage name “Sophie Tucker” was born to Jewish-Ukrainian immigrant parents. She was a singer, comedian, and actress. Tucker made a name for herself on the Vaudeville stage, even performing in blackface.
Tucker defied popular assumptions about how women should look and act on stage. Perhaps one of the first popular artists to embrace her plus-size physique, she leaned into the critics of her body by performing songs like "I Don't Want to Get Thin" and "Nobody Loves a Fat Girl, But Oh How a Fat Girl Can Love." Furthermore, Tucker’s act included performing songs with overt sexual overtones, which was not considered appropriate for women to do. She went by the nickname “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.”
Tucker was a strategic performer who adapted to the changing times to stay relevant. According to her biographer, Laura Sklaroff, Tucker began touring internationally in the 1920s and gained worldwide popularity. She would then incorporate stories from her travels into her shows in the United States, and premiere new works. Her transnational appeal propelled her career.
Tucker defied popular assumptions about how women should look and act on stage. Perhaps one of the first popular artists to embrace her plus-size physique, she leaned into the critics of her body by performing songs like "I Don't Want to Get Thin" and "Nobody Loves a Fat Girl, But Oh How a Fat Girl Can Love." Furthermore, Tucker’s act included performing songs with overt sexual overtones, which was not considered appropriate for women to do. She went by the nickname “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.”
Tucker was a strategic performer who adapted to the changing times to stay relevant. According to her biographer, Laura Sklaroff, Tucker began touring internationally in the 1920s and gained worldwide popularity. She would then incorporate stories from her travels into her shows in the United States, and premiere new works. Her transnational appeal propelled her career.
