Born in Consort, near Edmonton, Alberta as Kathryn Dawn Lang, her father was Adam Frederick Lang (commonly known as Fred), a pharmacist, and her mother was Audrey, a teacher. She began performing music as a teenager aided by a natural ability and extraordinary voice.

Reportedly she does not use capital letters in her name as a tribute to poet e.e. cummings. In 1997, at a record release party in New York, k.d. lang promoted Drag, a torch-blues compilation of reinterpreted classics.

At this point lang seemed to have achieved many of her ambitions, including the one of finding reciprocal love with another woman, in this instance Leisha Hailey.

"I think coming out helped a lot for me personally, because living in honesty and living open, and in truth is an amazing feeling and I highly recommend it for anyone. No matter what you're hiding, just let it go."

Winner of three Grammy awards and a Juno award, which she accepted dressed in a wedding dress and cowboy boots. In 1997 she was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Source: excerpts from: Aldrich R. & Wotherspoon G., Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History, from WWII to Present Day, Routledge, London, 2001 - et alii

CDs:

• A truly Western Experience (1984)
• Angel With a Lariat (1987)
• Shadowland (1988)
• Absolute Torch and Twang (1989)
• Ingenue (1992)
• Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)
• All You Can Eat (1995)
• Drag (1997)
• Invincible Summer
• Live by Request (2001)

Filmography:

• Salmonberries (1991)
• Teresa's Tattoo (1994)
• The Last Don (TV, 1997)
• Eye of the Beholder (1999)

DVD:

• Live by Request (2001)

Website: http://www.wbr.com/kdlang/