My Mama, Cass: A Memoir

Owen Elliot-Kugell's memoir tells the story of her mother, Cass Elliot, a member of The Mamas & The Papas and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Known for her powerful voice and role in defining 1960s counterculture, Cass Elliot died at age 32, after which numerous rumors and myths surrounded her life and legacy. Born Ellen Naomi Cohen, Cass Elliot was an independently minded woman who succeeded in a male-dominated industry, a feminist, and a single parent. In this memoir, Owen shares previously untold details about her mother's life, including the secret of Owen's paternity, Cass's struggles with self-esteem and weight, and circumstances surrounding her death. The book includes interviews with prominent figures who knew Cass, as well as family and archival photographs. The memoir combines personal reflection with historical documentation, exploring both the public icon and the private person Owen knew as her mother, while examining her lasting cultural impact.