Celebrating Country Music's Black Roots

This podcast episode explores the impact of Black performers in the history of country music and their contributions to the string band tradition. It features discussions with Rhiannon Giddens and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, highlighting their experiences as black musicians in a predominantly white folk music scene. The episode also delves into topics such as the influence of Joe Thompson's fiddle style, the challenges of navigating the music's minstrel show past, Rhiannon Giddens' unique fiddle style, and the character development of Count Rostov in the TV series "A Gentleman in Moscow." Additionally, the episode touches on the upcoming two-part biography of Steve Martin and his career journey from stand-up comedy to success in movies and television.