NPR Music

08/28/2026

Alabama Shakes. Mike D. Interpol. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Sean Carolan of WBJB in New Jersey about their favorite albums out today.

Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

🎧 Listen to the episode at the link in bio

08/28/2026

"I believe that we're living through a crucial moment, not just in our history as Black people or in global history. We are at a point of confrontation and a point when things must turn." —Saul Williams, in an interview with NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael.

The unflinching multidisciplinary artist has long welcomed new challenges. With the release of a new album and a new book, he embraces the role his career has been building toward: investigative poet.

08/26/2026

Until her passing on Tuesday, Dolly Parton may have been the only living person truly worthy of that old-fashioned designation, "America's Sweetheart.”

Parton, who died at 80 on Tuesday, had charm, depth, beauty, wit and radiant goodness. She was also a songwriter whose work told the story not just of country music but of the country itself.

08/25/2026

We stopped at 10 Dolly Parton songs, but could have kept going forever.

Dolly Parton's greatest gift is her rare humility: She's utterly fearless in her ability to seem heartsick, corny, funny and raw, sometimes all at once.

08/25/2026

Rest in peace, Dolly Parton.

The artist was a star performer in country music, and went on to become one of the genre's most recognizable and universally adored ambassadors to broader popular culture.

08/12/2026

⭐ Announcing the 2026 AMERICANAFEST Day Stage lineup⭐

Join us live at Eastside Bowl in Nashville on Sept. 16-18 for three straight days of daytime Americana Music Association sets from 14 stellar artists plus a surprise guest! Or, tune in to the live video broadcast only on NPR Music’s YouTube channel.

Learn more at the link in bio.

07/17/2026

• Last week, Cure For Paranoia wrapped up the 2026 Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, where they performed alongside 20 other standout entrants across the country. 🎸 ⭐

Put on in collaboration with NPR member stations, each stop was a celebration of public media and the creatives of the Contest community. ♥️

🔗 Tap the link in bio for the full picture show, chosen by the photographers and photo editor who covered the tour. 📸

Photo Credits:
1-4, 11-12. Swiper 📸🇵🇭 for NPR
5-6. Jovelle Tamayo for NPR
7-8. David Brendan Hall for NPR
9-10. Jo Allen🕊 for NPR
13-14. Jaida Grey Eagle for NPR
15-16. Faith Nguyen for NPR
17-18. RB for NPR
19-20. Eric Lee for NPR

The 2026 Tiny Desk Contest is presented by Capital One and supported by Rivian

06/22/2026

Clive Davis, the legendary music executive who launched several superstar careers while running Columbia Records and Arista Records, has died at the age of 94.

The record executive was instrumental in shepherding the successful careers of a number of monumental music stars, including Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin, Billy Joel and Whitney Houston.

06/15/2026

South Africa lost one of its musical icons Monday when Abdullah Ibrahim died at the age of 91. Read about his eight-decade career via our link in bio.

06/15/2026

Gershwin! Dvořák! Debussy! Stravinsky! The new 3-disc set from French sisters Katia & Marielle Labeque features highlights from their 55 years of piano duets, as well as several new recordings fans haven’t heard before.

🎧 Listen to our review via the link in bio.