Bucking cultural norms and music-industry trends, overweight singers find greater acceptance in certain musical styles. Sometimes, their body types are even considered essential. Today, we talk with Rachel Giese of CBC Arts Online; Anne Midgette, classical music critic of the New York Times; and opera singer Shana Blake Hill about singers who defy expectations, from Beth Ditto (of pop-punk group the Gossip) to soul diva Aretha Franklin.