Mother, Matriarch And Mentor
There really was no precedent for Maybelle Carter, who learned to play from her own mother and spent much of her life teaching her children — as well as generations of country stars that followed.
Music Features
Burn, Don't Freeze: Sleater-Kinney On Making Art In The Midst Of Change
The Center Won't Hold casts an uneasy gaze on technology and politics; it's also the band's last album with its longtime drummer. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker.
For Women Musicians, Maybelle Carter Set The Standard And Broke The Mold
One of the most indispensable guitarists of all time, Carter was a quiet revolutionary. Though she didn't concern herself with celebrity or need to be the star, she deserves our deepest admiration.
On The Border With Maybelle Carter And Lydia Mendoza
We rarely place Mendoza and Carter, both great guitarists and lead vocalists in family bands, in conversation — though listeners to border radio stations in the late 1930s were often fans of both.
Electric Miles: Behind The 'Brew'
We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis going electric for Bitches Brew — part controversial, part revolutionary and as a whole, historic.
How To Play The 'Carter Scratch' (Featuring Courtney Marie Andrews)
Maybelle Carter's guitar innovation helped revolutionize the way the instrument is played. Watch Americana singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews show you how it's done.
A Lifetime Of Labor: Maybelle Carter At Work
Her musical career began in childhood. She witnessed the dawn of the recording era and helped create country music as one of the genre's biggest acts. But Maybelle Carter never stopped working.
What It Means To Listen To Sleater-Kinney Now
What happens when an artist you count on to be one way suddenly isn't? For writer Hanif Abdurraquib, appreciating the left-turn album The Center Won't Hold has meant letting go of years of nostalgia.
The World Of Maybelle Carter: A Turning The Tables Playlist
The degree to which Mother Maybelle's guitar playing influenced the next century of country and roots music cannot be overstated. In this playlist, hear her Carter Scratch echo across generations.
Fascination, Friendship And Desire: Kathleen Hanna On The Reign Of 'Rebel Girl'
Bikini Kill's instant anthem for the '90s riot grrrl movement found new purpose at rock camps, where young girls learn to express themselves through music. Hanna breaks it down with NPR's Ann Powers.