NPR

The Women Behind The Songs: Ester Dean

Fun, fearless and freethinking, Ester Dean's vivacious personality comes across in her work. The songwriter has written hits for Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry.
Ester Dean arrives for the premiere of <em>Pitch Perfect 3 </em>in Hollywood, Calif. in 2017. Dean's songs give you a three-minute escape from the daily grind.

Ester Dean's voice may be recognizable from her role as as Cynthia-Rose Adams in the movies and the animated films and , but that only scratches the surface of the Oklahoma native's work. Dean's greatest successes come from songwriting; not only is she a Grammy-nominated, and .

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min readInternational Relations
Hamas Says Latest Cease-fire Talks Have Ended. Israel Vows A Military Operation Soon
The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo. Meanwhile, Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza after Hamas attacked it.
NPR2 min read
Jerry Seinfeld And The Fraught History Of Comedians And 'Political Correctness'
Jerry Seinfeld has the become the latest in a string of public figures to blame "political correctness" for the death of comedy (among other societal ills). But what does the term actually refer to?
NPR2 min readDiscrimination & Race Relations
U Of Mississippi Opens Probe Over Hostile Protest That Involved Racist Taunts
Videos of Thursday's incident at the school were shared on social media showing heated confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and a larger group of counterprotesters.

Related Books & Audiobooks