Kesha Sebert, performing at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium Sept. 27, 2017 in support of her "comeback" album Rainbow. Courtesy of Jason Myers hide caption
Ann Powers : The Record Essays by NPR's pop critic on the intersections between music and everything else.
The Record
Music News From NPRAnn Powers
Harry Styles debut solo album, Harry Styles, was released on May 12. Harley Weir/Courtesy of Columbia Records hide caption
Chuck Berry on stage in London in 1965. Berry died March 18, 2017, at the age of 90. David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images hide caption
Beyoncé performs at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 12. She won the award for best urban contemporary album, but was shut out of the major categories, which were all given to Adele. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS hide caption
Lady Gaga during her performance at halftime of Super Bowl LI in Houston, Texas. Christopher Polk/Getty Images hide caption
Flowers are laid beneath a mural of David Bowie in London in January. Carl Court/Getty Images hide caption
Jamila Woods' HEAVN is one of Ann Powers' top albums of 2016. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Miranda Lambert's new album, The Weight of These Wings, comes out Friday. Becky Fluke/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Lady Gaga's new album, Joanne, is out now. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Bruno Mars has released the first single, "24K Magic," from his upcoming album of the same name. Kai Z Feng/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Emily Strayer, Natalie Maines, and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks perform onstage on June 1, 2016, for the DCX World Tour MMXVI Opener. The tour stopped in Nashville Wednesday. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for PMK hide caption
Maren Morris, one of Nashville's rising stars, performs at Nissan Stadium on the opening night of the 2016 CMA Festival. John Shearer/Getty Images hide caption
"When these songs started bubbling to the surface, I tried to ignore them — but they were on loop," says John Paul White. "Little by little they wore me down." Allister Ann/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Anohni, the singer formerly known as Antony Hegarty, will release her album Hopelessness on May 6. Alice O'Malley/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Prince on stage in The Netherlands in 1986, during the tour for his album Parade. Rob Verhorst/Getty Images hide caption
Almost famous, Seventies singer, Jobriath (born: Bruce Wayne Campbell). The latest episode of HBO's Vinyl has introduced a character seemingly based on his career. Benno Friedman/Courtesy of Kieran Turner hide caption
Zayn Malik's debut solo album, Mind of Mine, follows his departure from the boy band One Direction, with which he released four albums in four years. Miller Mobley/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
First lady Michelle Obama on stage with Missy Elliott during her SXSW keynote event on Wednesday, March 16. Drew Anthony Smith/Getty Images hide caption
David Bowie in 1974, on the set of the Dutch TV show TopPop, where he performed "Rebel Rebel," from the album Diamond Dogs. Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns/Getty Images hide caption
John Paul White's "Simple Song" appears on the concept album Southern Family, produced by Dave Cobb. Allister Ann/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Producer Dave Cobb in the studio at his Nashville home. Cobb's work has added traditional notes to the slick sound that dominates country, but he challenges the idea that what he's doing is more "authentic." Laura E. Partain for NPR hide caption
Ann Powers calls Rhiannon Giddens' solo debut, Tomorrow Is My Turn, an album that "literally reconfigures American history." Michael Weintraub/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
June Millington, the author of the memoir Land of a Thousand Bridges: Island Girl in a Rock & Roll World, on the porch of the Fanny's House of Music in East Nashville. The shop is named after Millington's band, Fanny. Audrey Spillman for NPR hide caption