Fresh Air · Podcast summary

Rhiannon Giddens traces the banjo from her ancestors to Beyoncé

Rhiannon Giddens, the Grammy-winning musician and co-founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, discusses her new album "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," her role on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter," and the deep historical roots of the banjo, tracing its origins from African traditions to its presence in various American musical forms.

Fresh Air · September 21, 2026 · 47-min episode · 5-min read

Rhiannon Giddens traces the banjo from her ancestors to Beyoncé

Key takeaways

🎻Rhiannon Giddens co-founded the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a band that played music from the Black string band tradition dating back to slave times.00:28
🏆Giddens won a Pulitzer Prize for co-writing the opera 'Omar,' which tells the story of a Muslim scholar from Senegal sold into slavery in the US.00:54
🎶Giddens' banjo playing is featured on Beyoncé's hit track 'Texas Hold 'Em' from the album 'Cowboy Carter.'01:27
🧙‍♀️Giddens reclaims the term 'crone' to signify a period of power and liberation for women who have gone through menopause, challenging its traditional derogatory meaning.03:21
🎭Giddens describes the emotional labor of performing Black history to predominantly white audiences, feeling the need to present it in a 'palatable' way to prevent disengagement.05:40
🌍Giddens challenges the notion of the banjo as solely a 'white mountain instrument,' emphasizing its African diaspora roots and its invention in the Caribbean under duress during slavery.01:45:00

Chapters

0:16Introduction to Rhiannon Giddens
4:01The Meaning of 'Crone' and 'Step Away Blues'
8:40The Emotional Labor of Performing Black History
11:42Beyoncé, Sing Sing, and Connecting with Black Audiences
23:23The Banjo's African Origins and Cross-Cultural Journey
53:32Playing 'Black Annie' on the Fiddle
59:54Living in Ireland and Embracing Gaelic Culture
1:05:24Dolly Parton and the Power of Female Songwriting
1:12:28Ancestry, Hope, and the Artist's Responsibility
1:18:48Performing 'Hope is the Thing with Feathers'

The digest

Rhiannon Giddens, a multifaceted artist known for her work with the Carolina Chocolate Drops and her solo career, recently sat down to discuss her latest album, "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," and her unexpected collaboration with Beyoncé on the hit track "Texas Hold 'Em." Giddens, a singer, banjo player, fiddler, and songwriter, delves into the historical significance of her music, her personal journey as an artist, and the importance of reclaiming narratives surrounding Black musical traditions.

A Career Rooted in Tradition and Innovation

Giddens' career began with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a band that resurrected music from the Black string band tradition, dating back to slave times. She later embarked on a solo career, recording albums that often drew inspiration from slave narratives. Her artistic endeavors extend beyond music; she co-wrote the opera "Omar," which earned her a Pulitzer Prize, and was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the "Genius Grant." Currently, she serves as the artistic director of the Silkroad Ensemble, an organization dedicated to exploring musical traditions from around the world.