Artwork for Sufjan Stevens' "Tonya Harding" single. Illustration courtesy of Stephen Halker hide caption

Sufjan Stevens' The Greatest Gift is out Nov. 24. Andrea Morrison/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Part of the cover art for Planetarium, the concept album by Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens, James McAlister and Bryce Dessner. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens and Bryce Dessner talking with NPR Music's Bob Boilen Annabel Edwards/NPR hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Frankie Cosmos, Feist, Rostam, Beth Ditto Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Sufjan Stevens, performing live in 2015. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

A still from the trailer previewing the new Justin Peck work The Decalogue, with music by Sufjan Stevens. New York City Ballet hide caption

Sufjan Stevens in the "Saturn" video. YouTube hide caption

Sufjan Stevens performs onstage at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California on April 15, 2016 at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption

Hear Sufjan Stevens' original version of "Chicago." YouTube hide caption

Joan Shelley's Over And Even is Stephen Thompson's favorite album of 2015. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Sufjan Stevens, Oumou Sangare, Sigur Ros, Alejandra Deheza of School For Seven Bells Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Sufjan Stevens performed Saturday at the 2015 Newport Folk Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

The tribute album Master Mix: Red Hot + Arthur Russell is out October 21. Courtesy of Yep Roc Records hide caption

The music that makes one of us emotional doesn't always make sense to others. William Lovelace/Getty Images hide caption

Sufjan Stevens' album Carrie & Lowell is out this week. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Sufjan Steven's new album, Carrie & Lowell, comes out March 31. Emmanuel Afolabi/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Sufjan Stevens' latest song is a return to his folk roots. Courtesy of the artist hide caption