There was something magical about Lena Horne. The first time author James Gavin met her, she was wearing a baggy white suit—stylish, yes, but also voluminous. She accessorized with a white cap and big glasses. But even all that couldn't hide the sheer brilliance of Lena Horne. "This woman gave off sparks," Gavin recalls, speaking to Closer. And let me tell you, those sparks weren’t just for show—they were a reflection of her inner fire, her strength, and her determination to break barriers in a world that often tried to hold her back.

A Life Sparkling with Inspiration

Lena Horne wasn’t just a singer and actress; she was a trailblazer. She passed away in 2010 at the age of 92, but her legacy continues to inspire people all over the world. Born into a privileged yet troubled family, Lena was both helped and hindered by her incredible beauty. She faced racism head-on in an industry that often didn’t want to see her succeed. But succeed she did—becoming the first African American to grace the cover of a movie magazine, racking up multiple awards, and performing well into the '90s. That’s resilience, folks.

Her Legacy of Strength and Beauty

James Gavin puts it beautifully: “Lena gave everyone a sense that they could age beautifully.” She showed us that no problem is too big if you find the strength within yourself to keep going. Her life wasn’t easy, but she faced every challenge with grace and courage. Gavin adds, “She taught us that you can conquer the world if you persevere, if you dig deep and find that inner strength to keep moving forward.”

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Lena Horne Broke Barriers in Hollywood, 'Gave Off Sparks' — Virgil Apger/Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock

Growing Up Lena

Lena’s early years weren’t easy. Born in Brooklyn, her father left when she was just 3, and she was mostly raised by her grandparents. “I really never had a mother,” Lena once said. Her mom, Edna, worked as an entertainer in a Black stock company and wasn’t around much. “She didn’t allow my father to be with me. I wanted both, and I couldn’t have either,” Lena admitted. At 16, Harlem’s Cotton Club hired her as a chorus girl. She wasn’t musically trained, but she had a knack for picking things up from the musicians she worked with. It was the start of something special.

Love and Heartbreak

When it came to love, Lena faced her share of challenges. Her first marriage, to Louis Jordan Jones, gave her two children but ended in divorce. She thought she’d found her soulmate in Billy Strayhorn, a composer and collaborator with Duke Ellington, but he was gay. “We would end and start each other’s sentences,” she recalled fondly. “I wanted to marry Billy.” Despite the heartbreak, Billy became a mentor and a guiding force in her life.

Hollywood Calls

Hollywood came knocking, and Lena answered. She starred in films like Cabin in the Sky, an all-Black musical, and Stormy Weather, where she found her signature song. But even in Hollywood, racism followed her. Because of Jim Crow laws, her scenes were often cut in the South. “No one bothered to put me in a movie where I talked to anybody, where some thread of the story might be broken if I were cut,” she said. It was a harsh reality, but Lena wasn’t one to back down.

Fighting for Equality

In 1947, Lena married MGM music director Lennie Hayton, who was white. She explained, “He could get me into places no Black manager could.” Their marriage eventually became a love match, but it was also a practical one. During this time, Lena left Hollywood, returned to live performances, and became a vocal advocate for civil rights. “I was always battling the system,” she said. “I wouldn’t work for places that kept us out. It was a damn fight … every place I worked.”

A Journey of Survival and Artistry

Lena never stopped fighting, but she often felt her achievements weren’t enough. “I was never able to enjoy this damn thing,” she said of fame. “My life has been about surviving. Along the way, I also became an artist. It’s an interesting journey. One in which music became my refuge and then my salvation.” Lena Horne wasn’t just a star; she was a survivor, a fighter, and a beacon of hope for generations to come.

—Lisa Chambers, with reporting by Fortune Benatar