Black musicians have always had a place in the history of country music, despite the music industry's push to label white folk music as hillbilly music, and Black folk music as "race records." "Black people that have succeeded in this industry succeeded in spite of that," said Andrea Williams, author and journalist.
“American Masters: In the Making” profiles two performers breaking down barriers in music. Follow opera singer J’Nai Bridges as she prepares for “A Knee on the Neck,” a choral tribute to George Floyd. Country artist Rissi Palmer redefines success as she works on her latest album, while uplifting other artists of color in the Americana genres.
Tony Award–winning actress and singer Audra McDonald hosts the broadcast premiere of American Masters: In the Making, which premieres on Friday, March 24 at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS App.
Now in its 37th season on PBS, American Masters was recently nominated for an IDA Award and a Critics Choice Documentary Award. The series illuminates the lives and creative journeys of those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape—through compelling, unvarnished and impactful stories. Setting the standard for documentary film profiles, the series has earned widespread critical acclaim and 28 Emmy Awards—including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special—14 Peabodys, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, an Oscar, and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of more than 250 masters past and present, the American Masters website offers full episodes, film outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the podcast American Masters: Creative Spark, educational resources, digital original series and more. The series is a production of The WNET Group.
