Billie plot
"She sang the truth, she paid the price"
Billie Holiday, one of the greatest singers of all time, has died at the age of 44. She had a contentious life full of violence and drugs, abuse and affairs. Linda Kuehl started a book in 1971 that never finished. For more than eight years, she tracked down the characters from Holiday's life in her book, such as jazz greats such as Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett and Count Basie, as well as her stepparents and school friends, fellow inmates and lawyers. With access to Linda's astonishing 200 hours of never-before-heard interviews, the documentary showcases an American legend. The people who knew her best articulate her depth and complexity. The documentary tells the story of Billie and Linda Kuehl, the woman who would sacrifice her life to tell Billie's story.