Marty Stuart: Keeper Of Country Music's Cowboy Couture
Out of love and necessity, Stuart has become a country-music historian. "People were throwing things away," he says. "I just took it as a family matter."
Music
Remembering Sabah, An Iconic And Thoroughly Unconventional Arab Star
A young performer who named herself Morning was sunny and shining into her 80s. The flirtatious Lebanese singer and actress was a superstar throughout the Arab world.
Commerce Vs. Consumption: A Revolutionary Rethink Of Billboard's Album Chart
For decades, the Billboard 200 album chart has measured one thing: the sale of albums. Now that the streaming era is upon us, the chart's formula is changing.
Four Holiday Goodies, Including 'Christmas At Downton Abbey'
It's not too early to be releasing Christmas albums, and Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker has been listening to a lot of them.
Yeezy Or The Bard: Who's The Best Wordsmith In Hip-Hop?
A data scientist pitted rappers against Shakespeare to see who had the more extensive vocabulary. But he says he isn't trying to make some sweeping statement about the lyrical prowess of hip-hop.
Paramore Feat. Joy Williams, 'Hate To See Your Heart Break'
Paramore's Hayley Williams collaborates for the first time with old friend Joy Williams (no relation), formerly of The Civil Wars, on this pleading ballad.
Reviving 'Allegro': Even Rodgers And Hammerstein Had Flops
Allegro arrived on Broadway with a cast of close to 100 and the biggest advance ticket sales in Broadway history at the time. But reviews were mixed and the musical only lasted a season.
In 'The Homesman,' Wind Is The Sound Of Insanity
Two composers became instrument builders to score the film, set in the pioneer days of the American West. "We both knew what the movie sounded like. We just had to find it," Tommy Lee Jones says.
'Only The Truth' Gets At Reality Through Legend
An opera nominated for a Latin Grammy explores Mexico's current political climate. It's based on a fictional bandida who continues to inspire fear and admiration along the border.
NPR Music Presents A Screening Of 'Wild Combination: A Portrait Of Arthur Russell'
Come watch a documentary on the life and music of the avant-garde and disco composer Arthur Russell's life — and stick around for a discussion with musicians and friends.