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Mountain Stage celebrates 40 years on the air

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Reto Sterch/Courtesy of artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Mountain Stage celebrates 40 years on the air

XPN

The live music program celebrates 40 years on air this year, and to celebrate, host Kathy Mattea shares some of her favorite performances and memories from her time as a listener, guest and now host.

Mountain Stage celebrates 40 years on the air

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Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea performs on Mountain Stage. Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage hide caption

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea graces the Mountain Stage to showcase tracks from her recent album Pretty Bird, which celebrates her maturing vocal range.

Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

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How Kathy Mattea Got Her Voice Back With 'Pretty Bird'

Kathy Mattea plays live in NPR Studios. Eric Lee/NPR hide caption

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Eric Lee/NPR

Music Interviews

How Kathy Mattea Got Her Voice Back With 'Pretty Bird'

The country singer-songwriter's voice changed in her 50s and, for a time, she thought her career in music was over. With advice from Tony Bennett and a voice coach, Mattea has returned.

How Kathy Mattea Got Her Voice Back With 'Pretty Bird'

Listen · 8:00
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Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea performs live on Mountain Stage. Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage hide caption

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

Making her 16th appearance on Mountain Stage, the singer-songwriter plays selections from her latest album, Calling Me Home, which examines her native Appalachia.

Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

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Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea performs on Mountain Stage. Stephan Hoglund/Mountain Stage hide caption

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Stephan Hoglund/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

"The show's sweetheart" makes her 15th appearance, joined by Bill Cooley, Tim O'Brien, Cheryl Wheeler and the Mountain Stage band.

Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

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Mountain Stage

Kathy Mattea On Mountain Stage

She's best known for turning out country-music hits, but Mattea has also explored Scottish folk, gospel and roots music. For her latest record, Coal, the singer drew on her family's roots in the coal industry to create a series of personal takes on old mining songs.

Listen Now: Kathy Mattea in Concert

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