Erna Hennicot-Schoepges completed her education in Music Studies, Philosophy, and Literature at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique in Bruxelles, Ecole Normale in Paris, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and the Centre Universitaire in Luxembour. She was appointed high school teacher of music at the Conservatory of Luxembourg in 1966. She began her political career in 1979 when she became a member of Parliament. In 1988, Hennicot-Schoepges was elected Mayor of Walferdange and remained in office until 2004. Between 1989 and 1995, Hennicot-Schoepges served as President of Luxembourg’s Parliament. In 1995 she became party leader of the Christian Social People's Party until 2003. During that period she had governmental responsibilities in many different sectors such as a Minister of Culture, Religions, Education, Higher Education and Research and of Public Works.
In 2004, Hennicot-Schoepges was elected a Member of the European Parliament and remained an MP until 2009. While serving as MEP, she was member of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats, member of the Committee on Culture and Education, member of the Delegation for relations with Mercosur, member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and member of the Delegation for relations with Mercosur.
In 2009 Hennicot-Schoepges was nominated a member of the Luxembourg Council of State. Between 2009 and 2012, she was a member of the Jury for the European Capitals of Culture as an independent expert.