The One & Only Googoosh

A celebration of one of Iran’s most iconic musical artists.

Googoosh was only two years old when she first appeared onstage, performing alongside her father, who was an acrobat. She was destined to become a performer. By the time she reached adulthood, she had become one of Iran’s first superstars. Her face appeared on television, magazines, and billboards. Women cut their hair into a “Googooshi” to look more like her.

But in 1979, concert halls, cinemas, and other venues were shut down. The Iranian Revolution had begun and her career was finished. New laws forbade the sound of a female singer’s voice. Googoosh remained silent for twenty years, but her fans did not forget her.

Azadeh Westergaard brings Googoosh’s story to life with lyrical text and stunning collage. As Iran’s people scattered across the globe, they still listened to her music as a reminder of the home they once knew. And when it was safe for her to return to the stage, they were united once again under the voice of the one and only Googoosh.