When TIME magazine unveiled its annual list of the 100 most influential people in music, the inclusion of Joan Baez felt both inevitable and long overdue. The folk icon, now in her eighties, has been shaping cultural conversations for more than six decades. Yet the recognition comes at a moment when Baez herself has stepped back from performing, making the honor feel like both a tribute and a final bow.

Baez’s influence stretches far beyond her music. She was a central figure in the American folk revival of the 1960s, giving voice to civil rights marches, antiwar demonstrations, and countless grassroots movements. Songs like We Shall Overcome became rallying cries not just because of the lyrics, but because Baez delivered them with a clarity and conviction that transcended the stage.

What surprises many is that Baez almost didn’t pursue a career in music at all. As a young woman, she wrestled with self-doubt and a shyness that made the spotlight daunting. Friends recall that it was only after she realized how her voice could amplify the struggles of others that she fully committed to her craft.

TIME’s editors noted that Baez’s impact lies not in chart-topping records or industry accolades, but in her ability to connect art with activism. They cited her willingness to risk her career—boycotting segregated venues, marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr., and even facing jail time for protesting the Vietnam War. In doing so, Baez carved out a template for socially conscious musicians who followed.

Today, her legacy resonates with a new generation of artists. Singers like Brandi Carlile and Hozier have openly cited Baez as an influence, pointing to her courage as much as her music. Even in an era dominated by streaming and social media, the authenticity she embodied feels urgently relevant.

In interviews following the announcement, Baez expressed gratitude but also humility. “I never set out to be influential,” she said, “I only wanted to tell the truth as I saw it, through song.” Her words echo the quiet persistence of a woman who, even now, continues to inspire without ever seeking the spotlight.

For fans, the TIME 100 honor is less about recognition from an institution than it is a reminder of something they already knew: Joan Baez changed music—and in doing so, she changed the world.