Carly Simon is more than a singer-songwriter. She’s a storyteller, a style icon, and one of the most enigmatic figures in music history.
From her breakout in the early ’70s with "That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be" and the era-defining "You’re So Vain," to her Oscar-winning "Let the River Run," Simon carved a path that was equal parts bold confession and timeless artistry.
Known for her striking presence, her candid lyrics, and her legendary stage fright, she embodied vulnerability and strength in equal measure. This collection of images captures the legend and lore of Carly Simon, the woman, the muse, and the voice that still resonates across generations.
1
Early spark
Even in her earliest days, Carly had that unmistakable mix of warmth and fire in her smile.
2
1971
“On April 6, 1971, Carly Simon opened for Cat Stevens at The Troubadour in LA. She later confessed her stage fright was overwhelming.
3
‘No Secrets’ sessions, 1972
One of the now-iconic shots for Carly’s No Secrets album. Released in ’72, it gave us You’re So Vain.
4
1973
Fresh off her Grammy-winning breakout, she was redefining what it meant to be a singer-songwriter.
5
1976
Few collaborations were as electric as Carly Simon and James Taylor. Onstage together in 1976, they blurred the line between personal and professional.
6
70s style
Carly Simon strolling through the streets like the star she was becoming.
7
1978
The cover that defined a chapter: ‘Life Without James.’ Carly Simon was never just half of a famous couple, she was so much more.
8
70s love
The harmonies of a love story: Carly Simon and James Taylor performing together in the ’70s.
9
Backstage with Steven Tyler, 1979
Rock & roll royalty collide: Carly Simon and Steven Tyler sharing a candid backstage moment.
10
1980
By the ’80s, Carly had already etched her name in music history. The smile says it all.
11
Martha’s vineyard, 1981
Carly Simon found peace and creativity on Martha’s Vineyard, where she wrote, recorded, and escaped the whirlwind of fame.
12
The royal couple of Laurel Canyon
Carly Simon and James Taylor were more than music’s golden couple of the ’70s.
13
1981
Few artists embodied effortless cool like Carly Simon.
14
A true muse
In the island that became her sanctuary.
15
You’re So Vain
No legend looms larger in Carly Simon’s lore than You’re So Vain. To this day, the song’s subject remains one of rock’s great mysteries.
16
Timeless
Carly Simon never shied from drama, whether in song or in portrait.
17
1985
Carly Simon in 1985, proving that artistry doesn’t fade with the years.
18
History was made
In 1989, Carly Simon made history: Let the River Run from Working Girl became the first song ever fully written, performed, and produced by one artist to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy.
