Hayden Silas Anhedönia, known professionally as Ethel Cain, is an American multidisciplinary artist working as singer-songwriter, record producer and model.
Born and raised in Florida in a Southern Baptist family, Cain has always been surrounded by music. She was involved in the church choir from a young age and began studying the classical piano at age eight.
When she was 12, Cain came out as gay. She left the church at 16 years old and publicly came out as a trans woman at 20.
“Whenever I started to develop, I started to come into my own as a trans woman,” Cain told W Magazine. “We were a house divided. It was me versus my whole town.”
Her father was a deacon (a servant to the church and pastors), though he has since left the church, and Cain grew up in a religious environment. Her upbringing shines through in her music, which is filled with religious references and imagery.
Her critically acclaimed debut album “Preacher’s Daughter,” which was released on May 12, 2022, is set to be the first in a trilogy of concept albums: “Preacher’s Daughter,” “Preacher’s Wife” and “Mother of a Preacher.”
The album follows the story of a fictional character named Ethel Cain (not to be confused with the artist) and her life (and death) as the daughter of a preacher in Shady Grove, Alabama.
“Ethel Cain is kind of my dark, evil twin,” Cain said in an interview with Billboard. “She’s not evil, per se, but we have both been through similar situations. If I didn’t choose to heal and forgive and forget, I would be ultimately destroyed, which is what happens to her. She is the mirrored version of what my life would be like if I chose not to get better.”
The album has two halves: tracks 1-7 follow the character’s childhood and early romantic relationships, while tracks 8-13 follow her experiences with a manipulative partner and eventual death towards the end of the album. It was almost entirely self-written and self-produced.
The album received glowing reviews from critics and fans alike, with publications like “Billboard” and “Dazed” ranking it among the top albums of 2022.
“Paste Magazine” ranked it number 43 in their article “100 Best Albums of the 2020s So Far.”
The album is unique in that each featured character has at least a name, if not an entire backstory. In track 3, “A House in Nebraska,” character Ethel Cain laments about the departure of her ex-lover, Willoughby Tucker, who is the focus of her upcoming record.
Cain’s second studio album, “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You,” is slated for release in August 2025. It will be her second release this year, following “Perverts,” which came out on Jan. 8.
She is set to depart on her “The Willoughby Tucker Forever” tour in August following the album’s release.
The album is a prequel to “Preacher’s Daughter” and is rumored to focus on Ethel Cain and Willoughby’s relationship, specifically why he left.
Though it was released three years ago, “Preacher’s Daughter” had its most successful week between April 4 and April 10, 2025, due to renewed interest and the long-awaited vinyl release.
Its success named Ethel Cain the first openly transgender artist to have a top 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart.
In a time where the rights of minority groups, especially the LGBTQ+ community, are being openly threatened, it’s especially important to celebrate their victories.
There have been several conversations around the world about legislation surrounding transgender rights.
On April 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. This means that in Britain, transgender women cannot be defined as women under the law.
Transphobic proposals and laws have been increasing in the U.S. as well.
According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, there have been 869 proposed anti-trans bills in the United States in 2025 alone, with 90 already having been passed. Examples of anti-transgender bills actively being discussed include life imprisonment for gender-affirming care, viewing “transgenderism” as a mental disorder, and “sex” and “gender” becoming officially synonymous.
With transphobia running rampant in governments around the world, it’s vital to celebrate the talents and achievements of marginalized communities. Not only does it provide important representation for minorities, but it serves as a symbol of hope.
Cain serves as not only an example of the talent and dedication found in the music community, but a role model for LGBTQ+ individuals around the world.
Several of her songs, including “American Teenager” and “Strangers,” have gained massive popularity on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram, with Former President Barack Obama including “American Teenager” as one of his favorite songs of 2022.
With two more albums in the works and plans to adapt them into books and/or a film, it’s clear Ethel Cain is just getting started.
