Beth Ditto

Beth Ditto Bio

Beth Ditto was born Mary Beth Patterson on February 19, 1981 in rural Arkansas.  In 1999, at the age of 18, Ditto moved to Olympia, Washington, where she formed band The Gossip with guitarist Nathan Howdeshell and drummer Kathy Mendonca (later replaced by Hannah Billie).  The band found mainstream recognition in 2006 with the title track from their third album, “Standing in the Way of Control.”  Ditto soon became regarded as a feminist icon, promoting body positivity and gay rights. She topped NME’s “Cool List” in 2006 and posed nude for their June 2, 2007 cover. In 2009, Ditto launched a plus-size fashion line for UK department store Evans.

In addition to continuing to record with Gossip, Ditto made guest appearances for Simian Mobile Disco (“Cruel Intentions”), Calvin Johnson (“Lightning Rod for Jesus”), and Jarvis Cocker (“Temptation”).

Ditto walked the runway for Jean Paul Gaultier at Paris Fashion Week in 2010.  Her Beth Ditto EP came out in 2011 and was followed by her memoir, Coal to Diamonds, in 2012.  The sixth Gossip album, Joyful Noise was also released that year.  In 2014, Ditto sang on the Blondie track, “A Rose By Any Name.”

In 2016, the disbanding of Gossip was announced and Ditto launched her second fashion line. Fake Sugar, her first full-length solo album, which featured single “Fire,” appeared in 2017.