Pop

Kilgore, who died Jan. 7, was a talented interpreter of American popular song. We'll remember her by listening back to her in-studio concerts with pianist Dave Frishberg from 1995 and 1999.

In 2022, his life and music became the subject of the hit Broadway musical "A Beautiful Noise." Neil Diamond is now 84 years old. Let's listen to Terry's interview with him, recorded in 2005.

In 2015, Copeland made history as the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Copeland took her final bow with American Ballet Theatre in October, after spending years away from performance.

Wilson, who died at age 82, was the creative force behind The Beach Boys. He wrote and produced many hits, including "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows." Originally broadcast in '88 and '98.

Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell. As you probably know, they're siblings who write songs together. She sings on their albums; he produces and plays several instruments. Their latest album, "Hit Me Hard And Soft," is now nominated for six Grammys, including all the major categories. Each of its tracks reached over 150 million streams on Spotify.

In November 2023, Byrne spoke about the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense and described the band's hit song "Burning Down the House" as a compilation of "non-sequiturs" with an emotional impact.

Brownstein and Tucker co-founded Sleater-Kinney in Olympia, Wash., during the 1990s feminist punk scene. While they were working on their new record, Little Rope, Brownstein's mother died suddenly.

Manilow was one of the biggest pop hitmakers of the '70s and early '80s. He now has a Broadway musical, Harmony. "I like emotional productions," he said in '02. I like to take the listener on a trip."

Beastie Boys Mike Diamond, Adam Horovitz and Adam Yauch — aka Mike D, Ad-Rock and MCA — started a punk band in New York City in the 1980s, before moving into hip-hop. Originally broadcast in 2006.

Today, we remember Tony Bennett and listen back to three interviews I recorded with him in the 1980s and '90s.

Monáe has been releasing albums that mix R&B, pop and rap since 2007 — this is her first since 2018. Ken Tucker reviews the new album, then we listen back to our 2020 interview with the artist.

Diamond's life and music are the subject of a new Broadway show, A Beautiful Noise. In 2005, Diamond spoke to Terry Gross about his guilty-pleasure hits, include "Sweet Caroline" and "Cherry Cherry."

Mellencamp had big hits in the '80s, including "Jack and Diane" and "Small Town." He performed "Pink Houses" for Obama's inaugural concert. Mellencamp joins us to talk about his life and music.

Weil, who died June 1, spoke to Fresh Air in 2000, along with her husband and writing partner Barry Mann. Mann described her as a "very organized" writer, who stuck with a verse until it was complete.

The married British duo Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt — aka Everything but the Girl — have their first album in 24 years. We listen back to a 2018 interview with Thorn.

Yannick Nezet-Seguin (yah-NEEK nay-ZAY say-GHEN), conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera, shares the music he listens to when he is not on the podium that inspires him. The playlist he made for us includes pop, hip hop, and classical music.

Crosby, who was also a member of The Byrds, was known for his great harmonies, his songwriting. He died Jan. 18. In 1990 Terry Gross spoke with Crosby and his former bandmate Graham Nash.

It's "a very sensual instrument," the parody artists insists. A new over-the-top "biopic" tells the story of Yankovic's life — sort of. Originally broadcast Nov. 16, 2022.

The music "biopic" parody Weird stars Daniel Radcliffe in an over-the-top version of Al Yankovic's life. In the film, making up words to songs that already exist is considered the work of a visionary, playing the accordion is akin to being a guitar hero and Yankovic is asked to be the next James Bond.

Swift's new album, which chronicles 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout her life, includes a bracing amount of clear-headed thoughts about love and life as a pop star.