Grammy-Nominated Jazz Artist Explores Grief and Healing
Nnenna Freelon, a Grammy-nominated jazz singer, opens up about her new book and album, both born from her personal journey through grief. The projects, Beneath the Skin of Sorrow: Improvisations on Loss and Beneath the Skin, took three years to complete.
Freelon endured a series of personal losses starting in 2019. Her husband of 40 years, Phil Freelon, passed away, followed by her sister Debbie and her beloved dog, Basie. These experiences made her question whether she would sing again.
“Grief does factor into the conversation about hair. Grief and hair are tied together,” Freelon shared, reflecting on how her life changes shaped her perspective on beauty, identity, and resilience.
Hair, Beauty, and Black Women’s History
Growing up in her mother’s salon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Freelon learned that hair is more than style. “Hair represents so much of our sense of beauty and female ego,” she said. Her mother treated each appointment as a moment of prayer, guiding clients through life’s milestones.
“She would accompany people on their hair journey—for graduations, funerals, weddings, even serious illnesses,” Freelon explained. This early experience shaped her understanding of the emotional and cultural significance of hair in Black women’s lives.
Freelon highlights the historical struggles Black women have faced with hair care and celebrates the resilience that has allowed them to reclaim their beauty and confidence.
Turning Loss Into Creative Power
Freelon’s book offers a flexible approach for readers. It includes meditations, poems, recipes, improvisations, and essays. Each section allows readers to explore grief and healing at their own pace.
Alongside the book, her album Beneath the Skin captures the full range of her experiences. One standout track, “Dark and Lovely,” celebrates the beauty of her three granddaughters and young Black girls everywhere. “You are dark skinned, gorgeous, and beautiful, just as you are,” she affirms.
These projects rekindled her love for singing and provided a creative outlet to process loss, demonstrating how art can be a powerful tool for emotional recovery.
Empowering Black Women Through Story and Song
Freelon’s work underscores the importance of self-love and empowerment. “We are not less beautiful, but we have to learn to love ourselves by ourselves,” she said, reflecting on life after her long marriage.
Her book, album, and podcast Great Grief aim to inspire Black women to embrace their journeys, honor their experiences, and celebrate their identities. Freelon hopes her story encourages others to find joy, purpose, and confidence, even after hardship.
“Beneath the Skin is a picture of a woman in her fullness—a woman who’s not apologizing, who is happy to be who she is, where she is,” she said. Her message celebrates resilience, beauty, and empowerment for Black women across generations.
