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Friday

Chappell Roan, performing during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 11, 2024, is up for six Grammy Awards, which will be handed out Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. Roan, along with Sabrina Carpenter, is nominated for album, song and record of the year, as well as best new artist.

Chappell Roan, performing during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 11, 2024, is up for six Grammy Awards, which will be handed out Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. Roan, along with Sabrina Carpenter, is nominated for album, song and record of the year, as well as best new artist. Noam Galai/Getty Images hide caption

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Noam Galai/Getty Images

Music

The 5 biggest storylines to watch for at the 2025 Grammy Awards

At Sunday night's Grammys, will Beyoncé finally win album of the year? Will Taylor Swift take that prize for the fifth time? Or will a new generation of pop stars claim the moment?

Radhika Vekaria at the Kali Mandir, near Laguna Beach, California.

Radhika Vekaria at the Kali Mandir, near Laguna Beach, Calif. Raymond Alva for NPR hide caption

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Raymond Alva for NPR

Music

Radhika Vekaria reflects on peace — and Grammy acclaim — in a quiet ashram

In a small ashram nestled on a quiet residential street near Laguna Beach, Radhika Vekaria is finding peace after receiving her first ever Grammy nomination.

Grammy nominee Radhika Vekaria revisits spiritual mantras on 'Warriors of Light'

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Thursday

Jazz musician, Christie Dashiell at The Mansion at Strathmore in Rockville, Md., on Jan. 13. Dashiell received her first Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album with Journey In Black. She was an artist in residence at Strathmore in 2014.

Christie Dashiell at The Mansion at Strathmore in Rockville, Md. Jared Soares for NPR hide caption

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Jared Soares for NPR

Music

Christie Dashiell became a musician at school. Then, she became an artist

Reflecting on a transformative residency program, the jazz vocalist now nominated for her first Grammy Award says her album Journey in Black reflects "the expansiveness of the Black experience."

First-time Grammy nominee Christie Dashiell on the history behind her jazz album

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Wednesday

Charley Crockett photographed at the Yaamava' Resort & Casino in San Bernardino on Dec. 13, 2024.

Charley Crockett at the Yaamava' Resort & Casino in San Bernardino. Raymond Alva for NPR hide caption

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Raymond Alva for NPR

Music

Country singer Charley Crockett is 'afraid of getting fenced in'

Charley Crockett has come a long way from his days busking on the streets of New Orleans. Now, he performs at theaters in front of thousands of people. To cap it all off, he's up for his first Grammy.

Country singer Charley Crockett is 'afraid of being fenced in'

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B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
Jackie Lay

Code Switch

B.A. Parker is learning the banjo

Parker has been trying to find her place in the banjo world. So this week, she talks to Black banjo players like Grammy nominee Rhiannon Giddens about creating community and reclaiming an instrument that's historically already theirs.

B.A. Parker is learning the banjo

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Tuesday

Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett

Charley Crockett performs onstage during the Class of 2023 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 22, 2023 in Nashville. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hide caption

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Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Consider This from NPR

Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett

Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett

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Thursday

State of the World from NPR

Latin America's Innovative Orchestra Conductor

Colombian conductor Andres Orozco-Estrada exuberantly connects with concert-goers at a time when classical music is struggling to maintain its audience.

Latin America's Innovative Orchestra Conductor

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Tuesday

Denzel Curry

Denzel Curry at the Maximum Fun Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Daniel Speer/Maximum Fun hide caption

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Daniel Speer/Maximum Fun

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Denzel Curry

Rapper Denzel Curry was born and raised in Miami, but his music doesn't really sound like he's from Miami. With his reputation as a Soundcloud rapper – his home isn't so much the neighborhood he grew up in as the website where he posts his music. He joins us to talk about his latest record King of the Mischievous South and his time growing up in Miami. We also get into some of his hobbies – he's a big fan of the card game Magic The Gathering.

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Saturday

Friday

Can James McVinnie change your mind about the pipe organ?

On his new album, Dreamcatcher, James McVinnie offers a fresh take on the venerable, and often misunderstood, pipe organ. Graham Lacdao hide caption

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Graham Lacdao

Review

Music

Can James McVinnie change your mind about the pipe organ?

On his new album, the British keyboardist offers both engaging and entertaining contemporary works for the misunderstood instrument.

Can James McVinnie change your mind about the pipe organ?

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Wednesday

Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963

Martin Luther King waves to supporters on Aug. 28, 1963, on the Mall in Washington, D.C., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Many musicians, including Marian Anderson, Mahalia Jackson, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Odetta and The Freedom Singers were also at the march. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/Getty Images

Opinion

Music

Daring to Dream: A reflection on America

Classical California KDFC

In celebration of what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 96th birthday, pianist Lara Downes examines how musicians have followed in his footsteps, and faced the cost of taking a stand.

Tuesday

Lil Baby and his team pulled out all the stops to make sure the artist's WHAM rap would make it to the edge of heaven on this week's Billboard charts.

Lil Baby and his team pulled out all the stops to make sure the artist's WHAM rap would make it to the edge of heaven on this week's Billboard charts. Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage hide caption

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Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage

Music

Lil Baby and Bad Bunny have fantastic chart debuts

Two debuts claim the top two spots on Billboard's main album's chart: Lil Baby and Bad Bunny.

Lil Baby and Bad Bunny have fantastic chart debuts

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Saturday

Friday

How Big Thief found a kindred soul in Tucker Zimmerman

Tucker Zimmerman Dirk Leunis/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dirk Leunis/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

How Big Thief found a kindred soul in Tucker Zimmerman

WXPN

Zimmerman, who has been recording since the 60s, made his latest album, Dance of Love, with the indie folk band.

Tucker Zimmerman on World Cafe

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