Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Jason Fraley celebrates today's release of Disney’s live-action “Moana” by flashing back to his chat with the original voice of the animated "Moana." Auli’i Cravalho called in to promote the National Memorial Day Concert in 2017, sharing behind-the-scenes gold about songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and co-star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 10th anniversary of Alex Gibney’s acclaimed documentary “Zero Days,” which remains just as timely today in chronicling America’s development of the Stuxnet virus to secretly attack Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Gibney called in to preview the 2016 AFI Docs Film Festival and reflect on his prolific career, from his Oscar nomination for “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” to...

Jason Fraley interviews Lou Diamond Phillips, star of the new crime drama “Gangland,” which opens in movie theaters and streaming today. He called in to preview the film and reflect on his career, from his breakthrough role in the Ritchie Valens biopic “La Bamba” to his Golden Globe nomination for the urban high-school drama “Stand & Deliver.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion&qu...

Jason Fraley celebrates the 250th birthday of the United States of America, which was founded on July 4, 1776 with a Declaration of Independence from the British crown. He spoke with author David O. Stewart in 2021 about his biography “George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum by flashing back to his 2015 chat with astronaut Christopher Ferguson when the museum screened his 3D/IMAX film “Journey to Space," narrated by Patrick Stewart. Ferguson famously commanded the final mission of NASA's iconic Space Shuttle program in 2011 before this year's exciting Artemis I...

Jason Fraley chats with Robert "Kool" Bell as Kool & The Gang rocks “A Capitol Fourth” this Friday, July 3rd to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. They break down the band’s biggest hits, including “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Ladies Night,” “Celebration,” “Get Down On It,” “Fresh” and “Cherish.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 10th anniversary of the musical “Bright Star” closing on Broadway in 2016. He sat down with acclaimed director Walter Bobbie and original actress Carmen Cusack backstage at the Kennedy Center when “Bright Star” made its pre-Broadway premiere in Washington D.C. in 2015. Bobbie also reflects on winning a Tony for directing the iconic revival of Bob Fosse's "Chicago.&q...

Jason Fraley interviews Grammy and Oscar winner Melissa Etheridge, who rocks Wolf Trap tomorrow night, sharing a bill with Wynonna Judd & Maggie Rose. They spoke during her previous visit to Virginia when she played The Birchmere in Alexandria in 2018. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates Juneteeth by flashing back to his conversation with DeNeen Brown, narrator of Dawn Porter's powerful documentary “Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer,” which premiered on National Geographic in 2021 for the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks Flag Day by honoring a real American hero in NASA astronaut Eileen Collins, who made history as both the first woman to pilot a space shuttle and the first woman to command a space shuttle mission. They discuss her new documentary “Spacewoman,” now streaming on Apple, Amazon, YouTube, GooglePlay and Vimeo. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 10th anniversary of "Hamilton" sweeping the Tony Awards by flashing back to a trio of chats with Director Thomas Kail. First, you'll hear their 2016 phone interview about growing up in Alexandria, Virginia. You'll then hear them at the 2016 Records of Achievement Awards at the National Archives. Finally, you'll hear them at the 2018 Kennedy Center...

Jason Fraley previews tonight's Tony Awards by chatting with Ken Davenport, one of the producers of Broadway's “Titanique,” which competes for the top prize of Best Musical. Ken knows a thing or two about the Tonys, having previously won for “Kinky Boots” and “Once On This Island.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 10th anniversary of the Kennedy Center's Spring Gala tribute to Marvin Gaye. Jason spoke with several of the performers backstage before the show, including Valerie Simpson, Babybace, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Leslie Odom Jr. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews lead singer Mike Love as The Beach Boys play Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, followed by Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia on Sunday. They spoke when The Beach Boys played the "A Capitol Fourth" concert in 2018. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews country singer/songwriter Tenille Townes about her brand new album “The Acrobat." She also reflects on her career, from getting pulled up on stage as a kid by Shania Twain, to winning Female Artist of the Year five times in a row at the Canadian Country Music Association, while crossing over in Nashville with the hit song “Somebody’s Daughter.”  (Theme Music: Scott Buc...

Jason Fraley marks the 15th anniversary of Scotty McCreery winning Season 10 of  “American Idol,” sparking a career of country music hits like “Five More Minutes,” “This Is It” and “Damn Strait.” They spoke when Scotty performed at the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington D.C. in 2017, so it’s only fitting to re-air it today for Memorial Day. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion&...

Jason Fraley marks the 10th anniversary of Alisan Porter winning Season 10 of NBC’s “The Voice,” becoming the first to win with a female coach in Christina Aguilera. They spoke when she performed the National Anthem at “A Capitol Fourth” in Washington D.C. on July 4, 2016. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Gary Sinise, who returns to co-host the National Memorial Day Concert with Joe Mantegna tomorrow on PBS. He called in the first time 10 years ago when he co-hosted the event in 2016, capping a busy weekend where his Lt. Dan Band rocked the G.I. Film Festival at Howard Theatre and performed for the wounded vets at Walter Reed. They also discuss the legacy of his Oscar-nomina...

Jason Fraley interviews hip-hop legend Big Daddy Kane, who performs live with the Duke Ellington School Orchestra at the Bethesda Theater in Bethesda, Maryland this Friday. He also teases his upcoming final album “Curtain Call" and shares memories of how Biz Markie gifted him “Ain’t No Half Steppin',” how he recorded “Very Special” with a very pregnant DJ Spinderella, and who he’d put on...

Jason Fraley interviews singer/songwriter Rachel Platten, who headlines the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s AcceptAbility Gala in Washington D.C. tomorrow night. She previews the event and reflects on her career of inspirational tunes like “Fight Song” and “I’ll Stand By You.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 50th anniversary of Henry Winkler competing for his first Primetime Emmy for his iconic role as The Fonz on the TV sitcom “Happy Days." They spoke in 2016 to promote his NBC reality show “Better Late Than Never,” traveling the globe with William Shatner, Jeff Dye, Terry Bradshaw, and the late George Foreman. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels teams with Public Enemy alumni Brian Hardgroove and DJ Johnny Juice to form the new hip-hop supergroup FREEDOM, dropping their new single "I'm On Your Side" tomorrow. They also praise each other's greatest hits from Run-DMC's "It's Like That," "Rock Box," "King of Rock," "It's Tricky" and "W...

Jason Fraley celebrates “Top Gun” returning to movie theaters nationwide tomorrow for its 40th anniversary by flashing back to his interview with Berlin lead singer Terri Nunn, who sang the Oscar-winning hit “Take My Breath Away." They spoke when the band reunited for their 40th anniversary tour at The Anthem in Washington D.C. in 2019. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks tomorrow's 70th anniversary of Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali” winning Best Human Document at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival, sparking a trio of landmark films known as “The Apu Trilogy." Jason spoke to Criterion Collection President Peter Becker and Criterion Technical Director Lee Kline about the trilogy’s exciting 4K restoration in 2015. (Theme Music...

Jason Fraley interviews Broadway star Shereen Pimentel, who played Maria in the 2020 Broadway revival of “West Side Story” and returns to the role TONIGHT, TONIGHT in a special new production by the Washington National Opera at The Lyric in Baltimore, Maryland on May 8-10, followed by the Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland on May 14-15. They discuss how the show's timeless themes of The Sh...