Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American-based blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, she released her self-titled debut album. Further, she released a series of American roots music-influenced albums incorporating blues, country, rock, and folk elements. In her career, Bonnie has collaborated with other artists, like Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Little Feat, The Pointer Sisters, and Leon Russell.
In 1989, after many years of limited commercial success, Bonnie had a major hit with her 10th studio album Nick of Time; the album included the song of the same name. The album reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 list and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Since then, it has been selected by the Library of Congress as a preservation in the United States National Recording Registry. Her following 2 albums, Luck of the Draw and Longing in Their Hearts, were commercial hits and sold multimillion copies. The albums generated several hit singles, which include “Love Sneakin’ Up On You,” “Something to Talk About,” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
As of 2023, Bonnie has received 13 competitive Grammy Awards and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also received the Billboard Women in Music Awards and the Icon Award. In addition, Bonnie was ranked no. fifty in Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”; and had her name on the magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 2000, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Bonnie Raitt Early Life:
| Full Real Name | Bonnie Lynn Raitt |
| Family Name | Raitt |
| Profession | Singer and guitarist |
| Date Of Birth | November 8th, 1949 |
| Age | 73 years old |
| Birthday | November 8th |
| Year Of Birth | 1949 |
| Nick Name | Brownie and Red-Headed Woman |
| Current Residence | California |
| Country | USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Religion | Christianity |
Bonnie was born on 8th November 1949 in Burbank, California. She is of Scottish ancestry, and her ancestors constructed Rait Castle near Nairn.
Initially, she played the piano but began playing Stella (guitar), which she received at eight as a Christmas gift. She did not take any lessons but took influence from the American folk music revival.
Bonnie and her brothers were encouraged to pursue music from a young age. From ages eight to fifteen, Bonnie and her siblings attended a summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains called Camp Regis. She learned of her musical talents when camp counselors asked her to play in front of the campers. Learning to play songs from folk albums became a hobby for Bonnie. As a teenager, she was self-conscious about her weight and freckles and saw music as an escape from reality.
Bonnie Raitt Family Background:
| Father | John Raitt |
| Mother | Marge Goddard |
| Brothers | Steve and David |
| Sisters | None |
Bonnie was born to John Raitt (father) and Marge Goddard (mother). John was an actor in musical productions, including Oklahoma! and The Pajama Game; Marge was a pianist.
Bonnie did not interact much with her father, as he was a theater actor. Her mother raised her.
Bonnie has two brothers, Steve and David, and they describe as a tomboy.
Bonnie Raitt Education:
| Highest Qualification | Graduation |
| College | Radcliffe College of Harvard University |
| High School | Oakwood Friends School |
Bonnie attended Oakwood Friends School (Poughkeepsie, New York), and in 1967, she graduated. Further, she enrolled at Radcliffe College (Harvard University), majoring in Social Relations and African studies.
Bonnie was the lead singer in a campus music group named the “Revolutionary Music Collective .”During her 2nd year of college, she left one semester and moved to Philadelphia with Dick Waterman and other local musicians.
Bonnie Raitt Physical stats:
| Weight In Kg | 60 Kg |
| Height In Feet | 5 feet 4 inches |
| Hair Color | Copper |
| Eye Color | Light brown |
Bonnie stands around 5 feet 4 inches and weighs around 60kg. She is popular as the “Red-Headed Woman” because of her natural copper hair. However, the color has faded over the years. Further, she has attractive light brown eyes with an amazing smile.
Bonnie, despite her age, is healthy and fit. She still gives a powerful stage presence and the ability to captivate audiences with her music.
Bonnie Raitt Birth Signs:
| Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Star Sign | Scorpio |
| Birth Sign Duality | Passive |
| Birth Sign Modality | Fixed |
According to Bonnie’s birthdate, she falls under the zodiac Scorpio. Currently, she is 73 years old. Further, her birth flower is Chrysanthemum, and her birth element is Water.
Bonnie Raitt Net worth:
| Net Worth | $12 Million |
Bonnie’s estimated net worth is around $12 Million. Her primary income comes from being a singer-songwriter, musician, guitarist, political activist, etc. Throughout her career, she has earned several awards.
Bonnie Raitt Relationship Status:
| Spouse Name | Michael O\’Keefe |
| Marital Status | divorced |
| Relationship Status | Single |
Bonnie is currently single; she was once married to actor Michael O’Keefe (27th April 1991). The couple announced their divorce on 9th November 1999, stating their careers caused considerable time apart.
Bonnie Raitt Career:
In 1971, Bonnie released her self-titled debut album after she signed with Warner Bros. The album included tracks like ‘Bluebird,’ ‘Big Road,’ and ‘Walking Blues’; critics appreciated the album. Between 1974 to 1986, she released several albums like ‘Streetlights,’ ‘Sweet Forgiveness,’ ‘Green Light’ and ‘Nine Lives.’
In 1989, Bonnie signed with Capitol Records and released her album ‘Nick of Time’; which became her 1st commercial hit. The album reached number 1 on the US Billboard 200 and won 3 Grammy Awards, including one in the ‘Album of the Year category.’ It sold around 5 million copies.
Two years later, her next album ‘Luck of the Draw,’ was released, which was also a huge success, selling 7 million copies in the US alone. Like her earlier album, it also won 3 Grammy Awards.
Further, in 1994, Bonnie’s album ‘Longing in their Hearts’ peaked at the no. 1 on the US Billboard 200. The song ‘Love Sneaking Up on You’ became popular, peaking at no. 19 on the Billboard singles chart. The album won 2 Grammy Awards. For the next few years, she released her other albums like ‘Fundamental’ (1998), ‘Silver Lining’ (2002), and ‘Souls Alike (2005).
In 2012, Bonnie released the album ‘Slipstream .’The album was a commercial success and won a Grammy Award under the category of ‘Best Americana Album .’In 2016, she released her seventeenth album Dig In Deep. The album reached number 11 on the US Billboard 200 list. The album featured the singles “Gypsy in Me” and “Need You Tonight.”
In 2022, Bonnie announced the title of her 21st album would be Just Like That…, and the record was released in April 2022. Preceding the album, she released “Made Up Mind” as the lead single. Further, in February 2023, at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, the album’s title track won Song of the Year; the song also won in the Best American Roots Song category.
Political activism:
Bonnie began her political involvement in the early 1970s. Her website urges fans to learn about preserving the environment. Further, in 1979, she was a founding member of Musicians United for Safe Energy and a catalyst for the larger anti-nuclear movement. In 1994 at the urging of Dick Waterman, Bonnie funded the replacement of a headstone for guitarist Fred McDowell from the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund. Later, she again financed memorial headstones in Mississippi for musicians Sam Chatmon, Memphis Minnie, and Tommy Johnson with the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund.
In 2002, Bonnie signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock. This nonprofit organization provides free musical instruments and lessons to public school children throughout the US.
In 2008, Bonnie donated a song to Aid Still Required’s CD to help the relief efforts in Southeast Asia from the tsunami (2004). Additionally, she worked with Reverb, a non-profit environmental organization, for her 2005 and 2006 tours. She is part of the No Nukes group, which opposes the expansion of nuclear power. During the 2016 Democratic primary campaign, Bonnie endorsed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Bonnie Raitt Social Appearance:
On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, Bonnie has around 130K, 118K, and 645K followers, respectively. Further, on YouTube, she has around 130K subcribers. She has a huge collection of versatile posts on these profiles.
Summary!
Bonnie Raitt’s career itself is her life testimony. She has achieved fame in the music industry through years of hard work, patience, and determination. Even at this age, Bonnie is on a world tour for her concerts; she is an example that age is just numbers. Our best is always with her.
