Sachin Walls
Ever wondered who the voice behind airport announcements belongs to? Well, the mystery has been solved. Carolyn Hopkins is the woman behind the soothing yet authoritative voice in airports and train stations in dozens of countries. Her voice has been described as mirthful and folksy, and she has been named one of the 500 most important people in history by Mental Floss Magazine. Hopkins records her announcements from her home studio in Hampden, Maine, and her voice has been adopted by over 200 airports worldwide, including JFK, LAX, and Chicago O'Hare.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Carolyn Hopkins |
| Age | 63 years old in 2011 |
| Company | IED (Innovative Electronic Designs) |
| Work Location | Home studio in Hampden, Maine |
| Voice Description | Mirthful, folksy, soothing, authoritative |
| Notable Work Locations | More than 200 airports worldwide, including JFK, LAX, Chicago O'Hare, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, NYC Subway, Capitol buildings, Mayo Clinic, Kennedy Space Center |
| Previous Work | Lead singer of a regional touring soul band called the Chaparrals, radio producer |
| Recognition | Named one of the 500 most important people in history by Mental Floss Magazine in December 2015 |
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What You'll Learn
Carolyn Hopkins is the voice of IED
Hopkins's journey to becoming the voice of IED began with her work as a singer and producer. She was the lead singer of a regional touring soul band called the Chaparrals and worked in radio production. When Allen-Martin and three other partners started IED, they chose Hopkins as one of their first voices for the Typhoon Lagoon attraction at Disney World, Florida, in 1989. Her voice stood out for its mirthful and folksy quality, a departure from the typical robotic or elegant paging system voices.
As an IED voice actor, Hopkins receives specific scripts, which she records and uploads to the computerized notification system. Her recordings include service status updates, unattended baggage policies, and safety tips. She takes pride in her work, seeing it as a public service and an honour to help people through her announcements.
Hopkins's distinctive voice has left an impact on travellers, with many sharing their nostalgia and surprise upon realizing that the announcements are made by a real person. Her voice has become a familiar presence in transportation hubs, offering a sense of comfort and familiarity to those passing through. Carolyn Hopkins's contributions as the voice of IED have undoubtedly enhanced the travel experiences of countless people around the world.
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She was also a singer in a soul band
Carolyn Hopkins is the voice you hear in dozens of airports and train stations around the world. Her voice is described as "soothing yet authoritative" and "mirthful and folksy". But before she became the voice of IED (Innovative Electronic Designs), she was a singer in a soul band.
Hopkins was the lead singer of a regional touring soul band called the Chaparrals. The Chaparrals had a full horn section and were said to sound a bit like Earth, Wind & Fire. They played in full evening attire: gowns and tuxedos. Hopkins remembered the experience as "absolutely excruciating in hot, Kentucky weather".
In addition to her work with the Chaparrals, Hopkins also worked in radio as a producer. It was this experience, along with her unique voice, that led to her being chosen as one of the first voices for IED when the company was founded in 1989. Her first voice recording for IED was for the Typhoon Lagoon attraction at Disney World in Florida.
Hopkins takes her work as a voiceover artist seriously, seeing it as a public service. She has said that she enjoys doing voiceover work because she is "trying to help people". Her voice has become a source of comfort and consistency for travellers, with many people expressing nostalgia for her voice during the pandemic when travel was limited.
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Hopkins has been named one of history's most important people
Carolyn Hopkins, the voice of IED (Innovative Electronic Designs), has been named one of history's most important people. With a voice that is mirthful and folksy rather than robotic or elegant, she has become the voice of over 200 airports and subway systems worldwide.
Hopkins' voice is heard everywhere, from the New York City Subway to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, and her recordings are made from her home studio in Hampden, Maine. She was first heard in 1989 at the Typhoon Lagoon attraction at Disney World, Florida, and her voice has since become synonymous with airport and subway announcements.
In an interview with CBS, Hopkins shared her thoughts on her unique profession: "Travelling can be such a bummer these days that people need a friendly voice." She views her work as a public service, aiming to help people and make them feel welcome, no matter how far from home they may be.
The impact of her voice is evident in the reactions of travellers, who have expressed their surprise and delight at discovering that the announcements are made by a real person and not a computer-generated voice. Her warm and friendly tone has left a lasting impression, with many people fondly remembering her voice and feeling a sense of comfort and consistency while travelling.
Carolyn Hopkins' distinctive voice and dedication to her craft have earned her a place in history as one of the most important people. Her contributions to the world of transportation have made her a familiar and trusted presence for travellers, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity in busy and often stressful environments.
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Her voice is heard in dozens of countries
Carolyn Hopkins is the voice that greets travellers in dozens of countries. Her voice is heard in airports and train stations around the world, from the New York City subway to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. With a career spanning decades, Hopkins has become one of the most listened-to voices globally, a "secretly famous yet always respected" voice of comfort and consistency for travellers.
Hopkins' voice is described as "mirthful and folksy", with an informality and warmth that seems at odds with the often sterile and stressful environments of airports and train stations. Her tone is soothing yet authoritative, and her announcements cover everything from words of welcome and safety advice to delay and cancellation messages.
The first time Hopkins lent her voice to an airport service announcement was for O'Hare International Airport. She was chosen by the founders of IED (Innovative Electronic Designs), a company that provides automated paging systems, to be one of their first voices for the Typhoon Lagoon attraction at Disney World, Florida, in 1989. Since then, she has recorded announcements from her home studio in Hampden, Maine, for over 200 airports and other important public spaces worldwide.
Hopkins' work has had a significant impact on people's travel experiences. During the pandemic, when many people were unable to travel, some took to social media to express their nostalgia for Hopkins' voice, with one person tweeting, "I miss her voice so much". Her voice has become a familiar and comforting presence for travellers, a friendly guide in the often chaotic and stressful world of transportation.
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She works from her home studio in Maine
Carolyn Hopkins is the voice that greets you in airports and train stations across the world. Her voice is described as "soothing yet authoritative", and mirthful and folksy, with an informality and warmth. She is one of the most listened-to voices in the world, and yet, she works from her home studio in Maine.
Hopkins records her announcements from a modest office in Hampden, Maine, and sends them via email. Her voice is so familiar, yet most people would not be able to recognise her face. She has been described as "secretly famous yet always respected".
Hopkins' voice greets travellers at more than 200 airports worldwide, including JFK, LAX, and Chicago O'Hare, as well as the New York City subway, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, and the London Underground. She has also been heard on the CTA and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).
Hopkins' journey to becoming the voice of airports and train stations began with her work as a singer in a regional touring soul band called the Chaparrals. She then worked in radio as a producer before becoming one of the first voices for IED (Innovative Electronic Designs), a company that provides automated paging systems. Her first recording for IED was for the Typhoon Lagoon attraction at Disney World in Florida in 1989.
Hopkins takes pride in her work, saying, "The reason why I enjoy doing this is I'm trying to help people. It's an honour".
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Frequently asked questions
The famous female airport voice is that of Carolyn Hopkins.
Hopkins' voice is heard in over 200 airports around the world, including JFK, LAX, and Chicago O'Hare.
When co-founder Hardy Martin and three other partners started IED (Innovative Electronic Designs), they chose Hopkins as one of their first voices.
Hopkins has also lent her voice to the New York City subway, the CTA, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Before becoming a voice artist, Hopkins worked in radio as a producer and was the lead singer of a regional touring soul band called the Chaparrals.
