{"id":2575,"date":"2013-04-21T12:13:00","date_gmt":"2013-04-21T12:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeiswhathappens.ca\/?p=2575"},"modified":"2026-01-15T17:24:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T17:24:22","slug":"the-fat-lady-has-sung","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeiswhathappens.ca\/?p=2575","title":{"rendered":"The “fat” lady has sung…."},"content":{"rendered":"
The old saying goes, “It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings.” Maybe no one considered that one day the lady wouldn’t be there to sing. I must apologize for using the adjective “fat” however, it is one of the obstacles, among many, that Rita MacNeil overcame in her long struggle to be a successful singer.<\/p>\n
On April 16, 2013, in Sydney, NS, a piece of Canada, Rita MacNeil, died at the age of 68. Prior to her late-in-life fame, Rita surmounted obstacles, such as, a cleft palate, an impoverished childhood, sexual and physical abuse, depression, addiction and obesity to become a recognized entertainer at the age of 42.<\/p>\n
Her forte was folk songs, particularly those of her beloved Cape Breton. She often sang with a choir of former miners, The Men of the Deeps. Like many, who struggle, she found that music was a great escape.<\/p>\n