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What Is The Song Of The Summer?

The Carters' "Apes***." YouTube hide caption

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Music News

What Is The Song Of The Summer?

From the joint debut of pop's royal couple to a "bro-country" act ceding the mic to a woman's perspective, music insiders give their picks for 2018's song of the summer.

What Is The Song Of The Summer?

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Priscilla Renea Refuses To Be Quiet About Racism In Country Music

"The essence of country music is talking about your experiences," Priscilla Renea says. Kyle Goldberg/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Kyle Goldberg/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Priscilla Renea Refuses To Be Quiet About Racism In Country Music

Dolly Parton, one of Renea's favorite singers, says you have to stay quiet to make it in show business. But Renea refuses to downplay her experiences as a black woman in country music.

Priscilla Renea Refuses To Be Quiet About Racism In Country Music

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Willie Nelson On World Cafe

Willie Nelson sings about outliving friends, surviving death hoaxes and more on his latest album, Last Man Standing. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

World Cafe

Willie Nelson On World Cafe

XPN

With a career spanning more than five decades, Nelson is an American treasure. Over a cup of coffee, the 85-year-old talks about outliving old friends, practicing martial arts and life on a tour bus.

Willie Nelson On World Cafe

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Country Music's Outlaw Legacy, Behind Glass

Willie Nelson (left) and Waylon Jennings perform at Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic in 1978. Leonard Kamsler/Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hide caption

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Leonard Kamsler/Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Record

Country Music's Outlaw Legacy, Behind Glass

At the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an exhibit casts the Outlaw country movement of the 1970s as a fluid exchange between the Nashville establishment and raucous outsiders.

World Cafe Nashville: Ashley Campbell

Ashley Campbell. Sean M. Flynn/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sean M. Flynn/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

World Cafe Nashville: Ashley Campbell

XPN

She may be the youngest daughter of the late Glen Campbell, but this singer shines all on her own. Campbell's voice comes along with a sly wink and salty humor.

World Cafe Nashville: Ashley Campbell

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Lindi Ortega On World Cafe

Lindi Ortega inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. Galea McGregor /WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor /WXPN

World Cafe

Lindi Ortega On World Cafe

XPN

The country singer-songwriter speaks on how she made her return to the stage and what made her leave her adopted home in Nashville to return to Canada.

Lindi Ortega On World Cafe

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Sweet Lizzy Project Brings The Sounds Of Havana To Nashville

Sweet Lizzy Project started five years ago as a producer-singer duo. It grew from there. Alejandro Menendez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alejandro Menendez/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Sweet Lizzy Project Brings The Sounds Of Havana To Nashville

WMOT

The Havana seven-piece is a passion project of Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks and son of Cuban exiles. Malo brought the band to Nashville in hopes they'll launch a career and build a bridge.

Sweet Lizzy Project Brings The Sounds Of Havana To Nashville

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New Music Friday: May 11

Pop juggernaut Charlie Puth's Voicenotes is one of our picks for the essential albums coming out May 11. Benjamin Lennox/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Benjamin Lennox/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: May 11

Our sprint through the week's best new albums includes pop juggernaut Charlie Puth, classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein, early Jerry Garcia recordings, guitar rock from Illuminati Hotties and more.

New Music Friday: May 11

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World Cafe Nashville: Joshua Hedley

Joshua Hedley Jamie Goodsell/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jamie Goodsell/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

World Cafe Nashville: Joshua Hedley

XPN

On his debut album for Jack White's Third Man Records, Mr. Jukebox, Hedley infuses his classic arrangements with deep personal feeling; his songs feel likes confidences, not costume dramas.

World Cafe Nashville: Joshua Hedley

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