Celebrating great women all around us

March is Women’s History Month and the theme for the 2026 celebration is “Leading the Change.” As we prepare to publish our special section honoring great women of all eras later this month, I reached out to a number of people for suggestions on subjects for stories. The responses have rolled in.

My initial research about these amazing women from many generations has truly inspired me.
They are certainly leading the change and impacting the world.

For our most recent issue of our monthly “Desert Exposure” magazine, I had the opportunity to interview a jazz vocalist by the name of Julia Keefe. She is coming to Silver City, to WNMU, for a concert this month that honors the great Mildred Bailey.

As Julia introduced me to Bailey, I was reminded once again how easy it is for us to let great women leaders soar under the radar when we should be learning so much from them. Bailey is just such a woman.

My story about Keefe and the Mildred Bailey Project began like this:

Long before arena tours and platinum records, a woman with a clear, intimate voice stood at the center of American popular music. Mildred Bailey, known in her day as “The Queen of Swing,” was among the most influential vocalists of the 1930s, shaping the sound and style of jazz singing in ways that continue to resonate.

Bailey got her big break in 1929, when she played and sang at a dinner party attended by big band leader Paul Whiteman. At his invitation, she became the first female vocalist to front a big band in a full-time capacity.

How well do you know the story of Mildred Bailey? Have you even heard of her?

During an era defined by the explosive energy of swing, Bailey demonstrated that subtlety could be just as powerful. She drew listeners in through warmth, phrasing, and emotional restraint.

Her influence spread quickly. Fellow vocalists studied her breath control and her ability to swing without strain. Billie Holiday admired Bailey’s rhythmic sense, and traces of Bailey’s intimate delivery can be heard in the work of Ella Fitzgerald. Even as those artists forged their own groundbreaking styles, Bailey’s imprint remained.

Yet she disappeared from the scene, and memories faded. We missed out on a lot. Now, as conversations about overlooked pioneers reshape our understanding of American music, Bailey’s legacy has gained renewed attention. As a Native American artist navigating a predominantly white, male industry, she carved out space through excellence.

Her influence is not measured in headlines, but in the legacy that remains, often seen in others. In that way, Mildred Bailey was leading the change. Just as Bailey shaped the world of jazz music, so many women have made and are making a powerful difference every single day.

This month, take a moment to pick up a history book, talk to the women in your life, and discover the greatness that is all around us.