Rebecca Magnuson is a singer-songwriter, composer, concert pianist, and playwright whose journey is one of survival, strength, and unwavering determination. A child prodigy at the piano, she became the pianist at her father’s church in Brooklyn, NY, by third grade. At 14, her family moved to Chautauqua, NY, where she was awarded scholarships from the Chautauqua Women’s Club and studied with world-renowned concert pianist Ozan Marsh at the Chautauqua Institution for the Arts. These formative years shaped her lifelong passion for music, but her story is about more than talent—it is about overcoming profound adversity.

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Rebecca worked tirelessly to put herself through college, waitressing at a local restaurant to fund her education while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. Years later, in a full-circle moment, she became the owner of that same restaurant, now known as She Sings® Café, Restaurant and Bar, a space dedicated to music, storytelling, and empowerment.

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Her music career flourished when she moved to Nashville, TN, to pursue songwriting. Her work caught the attention of Bob Doyle, Garth Brooks’ longtime business partner, who signed her songs to Major Bob Music. She later had songs signed with Sony Nashville and other publishing companies before forming She Sings® Publishing, ensuring full ownership of her catalog.

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Behind the success, however, Rebecca was fighting battles few could see. She endured years of physical, emotional, and financial abuse—an experience that nearly silenced her. But instead of letting trauma define her, she transformed her pain into purpose, using music and storytelling as a means of healing, empowerment, and advocacy.

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Determined to reclaim her voice, Rebecca wrote and produced She Sings®: A Soaring Musical, a one-woman show that premiered in 2018 to sold-out audiences in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Off-Broadway in New York City. The show resonated deeply with audiences, particularly women who saw their own struggles reflected in her story. The overwhelming response led to its adaptation into She Sings®: Surviving the Narcissist, a five-part documentary amplifying the voices of women who, like her, have fought to escape abuse and rebuild their lives.

Rebecca’s advocacy extends far beyond the stage. She has worked extensively with nonprofits in the cities where she has toured She Sings®, especially in Washington, DC, where she lived and raised her children. Using her platform, she has shed light on the devastating impact of abuse and the long road to healing. Her commitment to empowering survivors inspired her to launch She is Safe of CHQ County, a nonprofit in Chautauqua County dedicated to assisting women in abusive situations and helping them regain their independence.

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Her resilience and dedication have earned her numerous awards, including the prestigious NY State Phoenix Entrepreneur of 2024 Award from the Small Business Administration, chosen out of 24,000 businesses in New York State. Under her leadership, her former business, Magnuson Transport LLC, was recognized in the Top Five Percent Worldwide by Amazon during her tenure as a Delivery Service Partner.

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Despite the challenges she has faced, Rebecca stands as a beacon of resilience, proving that survival is not just about escaping the past—it’s about reclaiming the future. Of all her accomplishments, her greatest joy remains being a mother to her two children, Grace and Gardner, who inspire her every day.

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