Stream now with KPBS Passport on KPBS+/ Watch Friday, March 13, 2026 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2
In celebration of Pride Month, "Janis Ian: Breaking Silence" takes a candid look into the "At Seventeen” singer-songwriter's decades-long journey as a musician staying true to her voice and artistry.
Ever since she was a teenager, Janis Ian has used her musical talents to express herself and write songs about the world around her. In 1966, she released “Society’s Child,” a song she wrote at just 14 years old about the travails of interracial love during a time when the topic was taboo. Although the song skyrocketed her to fame, she was also subjected to intense pressure and hostility from racist critics.
Despite the isolation and scrutiny she experienced, Ian continued to explore her love of music and her talent for songwriting, which ultimately led to a career full of award-winning works that chronicled her journey of self-exploration and evolving reflections of society.
Dive into the story behind Ian’s musical artistry, starting as a precocious teenager who transforms into a groundbreaking voice in folk music and beyond, in AMERICAN MASTERS "Janis Ian: Breaking Silence."
Featuring archival footage and stills, animations, mood shots and new interviews with Ian, the film follows the artist’s life, showing how her politically active parents influenced her songwriting, particularly with the song “Society’s Child.” Following the song’s release, she began performing at renowned music venues in New York City’s West Village alongside folk music’s most notable artists, cementing her place as a stalwart in the folk genre.
Her growing fame, however, came at a price – the media scrutiny and antagonism, especially at such a young age, took an emotional toll on Ian. In the face of these hardships and the pressure to conform to the music industry’s expectations of young female artists, Ian continued to hone her craft and stay true to her evolving artistic voice.
Her Grammy Award-winning record “At Seventeen” catapulted her to even greater fame and solidified her as one of the most celebrated female songwriters of the 20th century. The poignant song delved into the pain of isolation and struggles with self-worth, and also tapped into the angst of a generation.
Along with her musical accomplishments spanning several decades, the film gives an intimate look into Ian’s relationships, the challenges she faced within the music industry and her struggles to hide her sexual identity before coming out as a lesbian during the release of her 1993 album “Breaking Silence.” Her fearless songwriting and musical brilliance continue to influence artists today.
Watch On Your Schedule: "Janis Ian: Breaking Silence" is available to stream with KPBS Passport on KPBS+, a new free streaming video app designed for ease and enjoyment everywhere you watch including Roku, smart TVs and mobile devices. It’s locally curated for San Diego by the KPBS programming team. With a clean and intuitive design, discovering and enjoying KPBS and PBS content on-demand has never been easier.
You can also tune in live to watch our four TV channels in real time: KPBS, KPBS 2, Create, KPBS Kids 24/7. We also added a new channel - FNX (First Nation Experience).
Your KPBS Passport member benefit works on KPBS+ too! You’ll have access to even more great shows when you simply log in with your KPBS Passport account.
Credits: A production of Wild Rose Pictures in association with GroundStorm Media and American Masters Pictures. Pierre Hauser, Gloria Ann Evans and Michael Kantor are executive producers. Varda Bar-Kar, Alessandra Pasquino and BrookeWentz are producers. Bill Prady is co-executive producer. The film is written by Varda Bar-Kar and Pierre Hauser, and directed by Varda Bar-Kar. For AMERICAN MASTERS, Michael Kantor is executive producer, Julie Sacks is series producer and Joe Skinner is digital lead.
