Prepare for a nostalgic and powerful journey back to one of the most significant cultural moments in music history when “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” premieres on Hulu on September 21, 2025. This feature-length documentary delves deep into the phenomenon of the 1990s all-female music festival, Lilith Fair. Founded by singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, the tour shattered industry norms and stereotypes by showcasing a diverse array of women in music, proving that female artists were not only incredibly talented but also a massive commercial force. The film will explore the festival’s creation, its immense impact on the music industry and popular culture, and its enduring legacy of female empowerment and solidarity.

Told through a wealth of archival performance footage, behind-the-scenes material, and new, intimate interviews, the documentary features an incredible roster of iconic artists. The lineup includes festival founder Sarah McLachlan, alongside legends like Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Bonnie Raitt, and Natalie Merchant, as well as modern-day superstar Olivia Rodrigo, who represents the generation of artists inspired by Lilith Fair’s groundbreaking path. “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” promises to be both a celebration of timeless music and a timely reflection on the ongoing fight for equality in the entertainment world.

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery cast with pictures

– Sarah McLachlan as Self

As the visionary founder and driving force behind Lilith Fair, Sarah McLachlan is the central voice and heart of this documentary. Her interviews will provide the foundational narrative, detailing her frustration with the sexist radio and tour promotion practices of the mid-90s that sparked the idea for an all-female festival. McLachlan will recount the immense logistical challenges and industry skepticism she faced, and her unwavering determination to create a platform that celebrated artistic sisterhood over competitive rivalry. Her perspective is essential to understanding the festival’s mission of inclusivity and community.

McLachlan’s role extends beyond that of an organizer; she was a headlining performer whose music—haunting ballads like “Building a Mystery” and “Angel”—defined the festival’s sound and introspective spirit. The documentary will showcase how her artistic sensibility shaped Lilith’s ethos, creating a safe and welcoming space for artists and fans alike. Her reflections will connect the festival’s 90s heyday to its lasting cultural importance, framing it as a defiant and joyful act of musical feminism that changed the industry forever.

– Sheryl Crow as Self

Sheryl Crow, a global superstar by the time she joined the Lilith Fair tour, brings the perspective of an artist at the peak of her commercial powers who chose to use her platform for collective good. Having released massive hits like “All I Wanna Do” and “If It Makes You Happy,” Crow was a major draw who lent significant credibility and star power to the festival’s lineup. Her participation signaled that Lilith Fair was not a niche event, but a major musical movement that the industry’s biggest names wanted to be a part of.

In her interviews, Crow will likely speak to the unique backstage atmosphere of collaboration versus competition, a radical departure from the typical rock tour environment. She can articulate the professional and personal significance of playing for massive audiences that were there primarily to celebrate women’s voices. Her presence in the film underscores one of Lilith’s core truths: that women rockers could be just as successful, powerful, and crowd-pleasing as their male counterparts.

– Erykah Badu as Self

The incomparable Erykah Badu represents the crucial diversity of sound and style that Lilith Fair championed. As a groundbreaking artist who fused soul, R&B, and hip-hop, her presence on the lineup was vital in ensuring the festival was not just a showcase for white female singer-songwriters, but a true tapestry of women’s music across genres. Badu’s performances brought a cool, neo-soul vibe to the stages, expanding the festival’s musical palette and its audience.

Badu’s commentary will provide a critical perspective on identity, representation, and the importance of creating inclusive spaces within feminist movements. She can speak to the experience of being a Black woman in a predominantly white musical space and how Lilith Fair succeeded or struggled in its goal of universal sisterhood. Her insightful and philosophical nature will add profound depth to the discussion of the festival’s cultural impact beyond the music itself.

– Bonnie Raitt as Self

Blues and rock legend Bonnie Raitt serves as the festival’s wise elder stateswoman and a symbolic bridge between musical generations. By the time of Lilith Fair, Raitt was already a Grammy-winning icon with decades of experience navigating the male-dominated music industry. Her participation was a powerful act of mentorship and solidarity, lending her hard-won credibility to a new generation of artists and validating their struggle for recognition and respect.

Raitt’s interviews will offer a historical context, comparing the barriers she faced in the 70s and 80s to the progress represented by Lilith Fair. She embodies the continuity of female artistry and resilience. Her presence on stage, sliding on her guitar, was a masterclass in prowess and cool, reminding everyone that women had always been rock and roll pioneers. Her perspective grounds the festival in a longer history of women fighting for their place on stage.

– Natalie Merchant as Self

As the former lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs and a successful solo artist, Natalie Merchant brought a fiercely intellectual and poetic sensibility to Lilith Fair. Her music, known for its social commentary and literary references, aligned perfectly with the festival’s ethos of substance and authenticity over commercial flash. Merchant was an artist who had long commanded respect on her own terms, making her a foundational pillar of the Lilith lineup.

Merchant’s contributions to the documentary will likely focus on the cultural and social significance of the event. She can articulate the importance of creating a space where intelligence and emotional depth were celebrated and where artists were free to express complex ideas. Her perspective will highlight how Lilith Fair was more than a concert; it was a gathering that affirmed the power of women’s stories and perspectives.

– Jewel as Self

Jewel Kilcher arrived at Lilith Fair as a defining voice of the 90s singer-songwriter movement. Her debut album, Pieces of You, with its vulnerable hit “Who Will Save Your Soul,” had made her a phenomenon. For Jewel, the festival represented a community where her introspective folk-pop was not an exception but the rule. She epitomized the kind of raw, authentic talent that Lilith Fair was created to uplift.

Jewel’s interviews will reflect on her rapid rise to fame and how Lilith provided a supportive environment during an overwhelming time. She can speak to the experience of being a young woman in the industry and finding a tribe of peers and mentors who understood her journey. Her story exemplifies Lilith Fair’s role as a sanctuary for artists to connect with their audience and each other in a genuine way.

– Brandi Carlile as Self

Though her breakthrough came after Lilith Fair’s original run, Brandi Carlile is featured as a key artist who represents its direct legacy. A powerful vocalist and songwriter in the folk-rock tradition, Carlile’s career is a testament to the doors that Lilith helped kick open for artists who defy easy genre classification. Her inclusion in the documentary creates a narrative through-line, connecting the festival’s history to the present day.

Carlile will serve as both a fan and a beneficiary of the Lilith movement. She can speak with passion about the festival’s influence on her as a young music lover and as a professional artist who now champions inclusivity and LGBTQ+ visibility in her own work. Her presence powerfully argues that the spirit of Lilith Fair did not end in the 90s but continues to inspire and empower new generations.

– Emmylou Harris as Self

The legendary Emmylou Harris, a country and folk icon, brought her unparalleled grace and artistry to the Lilith stage. With a career dedicated to musical excellence and collaboration, Harris embodied the festival’s communal spirit. Her participation signified that Lilith Fair respected and included legends from all corners of the music world, from country and folk to rock and pop.

Harris’s commentary will be filled with the warmth and wisdom of a artist who has always focused on the music above all else. She can speak to the timeless quality of songwriting and performance that Lilith celebrated, transcending trends and genres. Her presence adds a layer of reverence and history, connecting the festival to a deep and respected lineage of American music.

– Olivia Rodrigo as Self

Modern pop-punk superstar Olivia Rodrigo is a crucial voice in the documentary, representing the generation of artists who inherited the world that Lilith Fair helped build. While too young to have attended the original festival, Rodrigo’s career—marked by her raw, personal songwriting and massive success on her own terms—is a direct beneficiary of the paths carved by the Lilith artists.

Rodrigo’s role is to reflect on the festival’s legacy. She can articulate what these pioneering artists mean to her and her peers, and how their fight for creative control and respect made it easier for her to tell her stories her way. Her inclusion brilliantly ties the past to the present, proving that the mystery Sarah McLachlan built is still being solved and celebrated by women in music today.