This Thanksgiving, we celebrate the 2024 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows. Each year since 1982, the program has recognized artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to the nation's traditional arts heritage. This year’s fellows include rockabilly country musician, Rosie Flores; carousel restorationist, Todd Goings; Cambodian dancer and costume maker, Sochietah Ung; Chicago tap dancer, Bril Barrett; Arkansas community activist, Pat Johnson; Navajo/Diné quilter, Susan Hudson; Gwich’in fiddler, Trimble Gilbert; Zuni dancers and singers, the Zuni Olla Maidens; Chicano muralist from Los Angeles, Fabian Debora; and koto player, June Kuramoto. Plus, music from past fellows, including live sets from New Orleans’ clarinetist, Dr. Michael White, Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet and his band, BeauSoleil, and sacred steel masters, the Campbell Brothers.

Country singer Kelsey Waldon grew up in the Ohio River bottoms of Ballard County Kentucky-a place called “Monkey’s Eyebrow” where her family has farmed for generations. She tells us about her journey as a songwriter, and her friendship with another hero of Kentucky, John Prine. Then a live set of New Orleans jazz and its Caribbean cousins with the widely acclaimed multi- instrumentalist, Aurora Nealand and her quartet at Artisound Studios in New Orleans 9th Ward.

It’s a sonic map of New Orleans music from the recording studios and nightclubs to jazz parades. Songs about life on Basin Street and Bourbon Street, to Rampart Street and the lady from la rue Dauphine in the voices of Trombone Shorty, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ida Cox and Louis Prima. Then, a live session at Marigny Studios with Creole jazz and soul singer John Boutté who grew up in the Tremé neighborhood in a family of ten kids, where singing was a household and street corner pastime.

We’re digging into the Piedmont blues, a rich style that mixes ragtime, old-time country music, jazz, gospel, hollers, and historic popular songs. A conversation and music with two younger players in the tradition: guitarist/singer Jontavious Willis from rural Greenwood, GA and harmonica player Andrew Alli from Richmond, VA. Plus music by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Elizabeth Cotten, Cannonball Adderly and Bob Wills. Then it’s the Stooges Brass Band from New Orleans in a live studio session.