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"I think this album has a lot to do with borders," Musgraves says of Middle of Nowhere. "The truth is Texas would not be Texas without Mexico in many ways."

Before making her upcoming sixth album, Middle of Nowhere, the country star returned to her small-town Texas home and discovered the power of in-between spaces. "I found a lot of clarity there," she says.

"I think this album has a lot to do with borders," Musgraves says of Middle of Nowhere. "The truth is Texas would not be Texas without Mexico in many ways." Kelly Christine Sutton hide caption

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Kelly Christine Sutton

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Jean is the second album by Yebba, named for the singer's grandmother.

Review

Music

There's more than one path to a confessional song

On new albums by viral sensation Yebba and studio whiz Pimmie, it's clear modern R&B has been clearing space for vastly different stripes of singer-songwriter.

Oscars 2026

The 2026 Oscars' best original song nominees, cruelly ranked

There are two clear frontrunners in this year's best original song race, either of which would be a worthy Oscar winner.

"I knew I was definitely blessed with a gift. And always like to say the gift wasn’t just my gift," Saadiq says. "It was given to me. So I had to do something with that gift."

Music

How the blues brought musical journeyman Raphael Saadiq to the Oscars

The singer-songwriter and producer took an unconventional path from Tony! Toni! Toné! to Sinners.

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NPR Music

New Music Friday

Fresh albums from Sturgill Simpson, James Blake, Kim Gordon and more.

Alt.Latino

We debut our female power anthems hall of fame, highlighting women in Latin music.

Bonus

NPR Music

NPR Music+

We pick our favorite needle drops from the best picture nominees and explore their history

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Harry Styles' new album has vibes all the time. Bangers, occasionally.

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

World Cafe

XPN

Fifty years into his career, country music singer Vince Gill feels at the top of his game.

Miles Caton as aspiring bluesman Sammie Moore in a pivotal scene from Sinners.

NPR Music

All Songs Considered

"Golden." "I Lied to You." We cruelly rank the best original song Oscar nominees.

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Bruno Mars adds yet another milestone to his career with 'The Romantic'

Live Nation and Justice Department reach settlement in antitrust case

As live music becomes more inaccessible, most fans stay watching through screens

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Oscar statues adorn the stage before the start of the 98th Academy Awards nominations announcement at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills, California, January 22, 2026. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty Images)

Music

NPR Classical

The best original score nominees for this year's Oscars make an exceptionally strong group. Try evocative music from Ludwig Goransson (for Sinners), Max Richter (for Hamnet), Jonny Greenwood (for One Battle After Another), Jerskin Fendrix (for Bugonia) and Alexandre Desplat (for Frankenstein).