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A Sprawling Blueprint For Protest Music, Courtesy Of The Jazz Duke

Duke Ellington at the piano, circa 1940. John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images hide caption

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John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

American Anthem

A Sprawling Blueprint For Protest Music, Courtesy Of The Jazz Duke

He called it "a parallel to the history of the American Negro." Duke Ellington's Black, Brown and Beige wasn't an immediate hit, but it set a tone for ambitious, provocative works about black life.

A Sprawling Blueprint For Protest Music, Courtesy Of The Jazz Duke

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Well Before 'The Wife,' Glenn Close Was Ready For Her Close-Up

Glenn Close plays Joan, the titular wife in The Wife. The role has earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress. Graeme Hunter/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics hide caption

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Graeme Hunter/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Movie Interviews

Well Before 'The Wife,' Glenn Close Was Ready For Her Close-Up

Her latest movie role earned her a nomination for the best actress Oscar. Ahead of the ceremony, she talks about facing the camera, her viral Golden Globes speech and her love of theater.

Well Before 'The Wife,' Glenn Close Was Ready For Her Close-Up

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Backstreet Boys On Fatherhood, Addiction And New (Grammy-Nominated) Music

DNA, the ninth album of the Backstreet Boys, is due out Jan. 25. Dennis Leupold/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dennis Leupold/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Backstreet Boys On Fatherhood, Addiction And New (Grammy-Nominated) Music

Backstreet Boys members Brian Littrell and AJ McLean joined NPR's Audie Cornish-Emery to talk about what fans can expect on the group's upcoming album, DNA.

Backstreet Boys On Fatherhood, Addiction And New (Grammy-Nominated) Music

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The Fight For Native Voices To Be Heard

Nick Sandmann, a student from Covington Catholic High School, stands in front of Nathan Phillips, a Native American, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Kaya Taitano/Social Media/Reuters hide caption

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Kaya Taitano/Social Media/Reuters

Code Switch

The Fight For Native Voices To Be Heard

What happened on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial last Friday has sparked intense national debate. Reporter Jacqueline Keeler shares what she thinks is being lost in the conversation.

The Fight For Native Voices To Be Heard

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'Field Guide To The North American Teenager' Taps Into The Raw Anxiety Of Adolescence

Author Interviews

'Field Guide To The North American Teenager' Taps Into The Raw Anxiety Of Adolescence

Ben Philippe's debut novel follows a black French Canadian teenager grappling with his parents' divorce and the upheaval that comes with moving from Canada to Texas in the middle of the school year.

'Field Guide To The North American Teenager' Taps Into The Raw Anxiety Of Adolescence

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Lin-Manuel Miranda On 'Mary Poppins Returns' And Writing His Way Onstage

Though he is best-known for his auteur work, composer, playwright and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda says it was his dream to be offered a part in someone else's musical. Elias Williams for NPR hide caption

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Elias Williams for NPR

Music Interviews

Lin-Manuel Miranda On 'Mary Poppins Returns' And Writing His Way Onstage

Though best-known for his auteur work, the mastermind of Hamilton and In the Heights says it was his dream to be offered a part in someone else's musical.

Lin-Manuel Miranda On 'Mary Poppins Returns' And Writing His Way Onstage

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The Moral Of The Story Is: Great Kids' Books Don't Always Need Morals

Click here to browse more than 300 recommended titles in NPR's 2018 Book Concierge. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Books

The Moral Of The Story Is: Great Kids' Books Don't Always Need Morals

Jon Scieszka — dad, teacher and author of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales — shares the books he plans to give to the kids on his list this year.

The Moral Of The Story Is: Great Kids' Books Don't Always Need Morals

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What 'The Front Runner' And Gary Hart Tell Us About Political Theater Today

In The Front Runner, Hugh Jackman plays Gary Hart, whose 1987 presidential campaign was swiftly derailed by reports of an extramarital affair. Frank Masi/Sony Pictures hide caption

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Frank Masi/Sony Pictures

Movie Interviews

What 'The Front Runner' And Gary Hart Tell Us About Political Theater Today

Matt Bai and Jay Carson wrote the screenplay of a new drama about the swift 1987 downfall of the Democratic presidential candidate — an event Bai says has a "direct throughline" to President Trump.

What 'The Front Runner' And Gary Hart Tell Us About Political Theater Today

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Movie Interviews

Encore: 'The Gospel According to André': Look Fabulous, And Know Your History

André Leon Talley is a fixture in the fashion world. A former Vogue fashion editor and former judge on America's Next Top Model, The Gospel According to André looks at his life, work and influence.

Encore: 'The Gospel According to André': Look Fabulous, And Know Your History

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'Authenticity Is My Rebellion': Viola Davis On 'Widows,' Steve McQueen And Legacy

In Widows, Viola Davis turns to a life of crime after her husband dies in a botched bank robbery. Twentieth Century Fox hide caption

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Twentieth Century Fox

Movie Interviews

'Authenticity Is My Rebellion': Viola Davis On 'Widows,' Steve McQueen And Legacy

The only black woman to have won an Emmy, a Tony and an Oscar for acting stars as a grieving wife turned professional criminal in a new heist thriller. "I approached her like a real woman," she says.

'Authenticity Is My Rebellion': Viola Davis On 'Widows,' Steve McQueen And Legacy

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Jacob Banks Doesn't Rush His Music: 'Time Is The Only Currency That Matters To Me'

"I've always strived for the feeling that I have now," Jacob Banks says. Grace Rivera/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Grace Rivera/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Jacob Banks Doesn't Rush His Music: 'Time Is The Only Currency That Matters To Me'

The U.K.-based artist talks about his love of cats, writing notes to his younger self through music and his debut album Village.

Jacob Banks Doesn't Rush His Music: 'Time Is The Only Currency That Matters To Me'

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Books

A Preview Of Michelle Obama's Book, 'Becoming'

Michelle Obama is out with a new book on Tuesday — Becoming. NPR's Audie Cornish sat down with the former first lady in Chicago and previews their conversation.

A Preview Of Michelle Obama's Book, 'Becoming'

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How Slick Rick And Queen Latifah 'Breathed Life Into Hip-Hop' In 1988

Slick Rick released his debut album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick in 1988. Al Pereira/Getty Images hide caption

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Al Pereira/Getty Images

Music News

How Slick Rick And Queen Latifah 'Breathed Life Into Hip-Hop' In 1988

Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia of NPR's podcast What's Good explain why they think 1988 was a banner year for hip-hop.

How Slick Rick And Queen Latifah 'Breathed Life Into Hip-Hop' In 1988

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Riz Ahmed On Rapping, Acting And Being His (Sometimes Shirtless) 'Most Complex Self'

Actor and musician Riz Ahmed spoke with host Audie Cornish in front of a live audience at Murmrr in Brooklyn, N.Y. Mohamed Sadek for NPR hide caption

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Mohamed Sadek for NPR

Movie Interviews

Riz Ahmed On Rapping, Acting And Being His (Sometimes Shirtless) 'Most Complex Self'

He's the first South Asian man to win an acting Emmy. He's now starring in Venom. He's also known as Riz MC. And he's "not just being shackled to a two-dimensional idea" of his hyphenate identity.

Riz Ahmed On Rapping, Acting And Being His (Sometimes Shirtless) 'Most Complex Self'

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This 'Halloween,' Jamie Lee Curtis Reckons With 40 Years Of Trauma

Watch out, Michael Myers, Laurie Strode [Jamie Lee Curtis] is ready for you. Andre Eccles/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Andre Eccles/Universal Pictures

Movie Interviews

This 'Halloween,' Jamie Lee Curtis Reckons With 40 Years Of Trauma

Michael Myers is back and, so is Laurie Strode. Jamie Lee Curtis was 19 when she starred in the original Halloween. This sequel ignores the others to focus on what has happened to Laurie since 1978.

This 'Halloween,' Jamie Lee Curtis Reckons With 40 Years Of Trauma

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