Marilyn Horne is an American operatic mezzo-soprano who has had a long and distinguished career in opera, concert, and recital. She is particularly associated with the bel canto repertoire, and with the title roles in Carmen and Norma. She is also known for her performances of works by Handel, Mozart, and Rossini. Horne was born in 1934 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and began her professional career in 1954. She has since performed in many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and the Royal Opera House. She has also been awarded numerous honors, including the National Medal of Arts in 1985 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995.