Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews country singer/songwriter Maggie Rose, who returns home to perform live at the Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Friday, followed by The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Sunday. She reflects on growing up in Potomac, Maryland before making the journey to Nashville to perform at the Grand Ole Opry over 100 times. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley'...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Uncle Kracker, who joins Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band and Megan Maroney for the "Sun Goes Down" Tour at Commanders Filed in Landover, Maryland on Saturday, May 25. They reflect on his career, from touring with Kid Rock to recording his own solo hits like “Follow Me” and “Drift Away” before his country music collaboration “When the Sun Goes Down....

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Ruth Moody of the folk/bluegrass group The Wailin' Jennys as she brings her solo tour to the Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Tuesday, May 21, followed by The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Thursday, May 23. They discuss her new solo album “Wanderer” and reflect on The Wailin’ Jennys’ hits from “Long Time Traveler” to “Wildflowers.” (The...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews BoDeans frontman Kurt Neumann as the band rocks Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Wednesday, followed by The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday and the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia on Sunday. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, who headlines “Broadway in Bethesda” this Saturday at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland. They discuss his prolific stage career, as well as the state of theater in America and his overall philosophy on life. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews actor Damon Gupton (“Black Lightning," "The Big Door Prize"), who guest conducts the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for “Blockbuster Film Classics” tomorrow at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, followed by a pair of shows this weekend in Baltimore. (Theme Music Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices....

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews comedian Marlon Wayans, who performs live at MGM National Harbor near Washington D.C. on Saturday night. They also discuss his upcoming standup special “Good Grief” on Amazon Prime, his new movie “Goat” by Jordan Peele’s Monkey Paw Productions and memories of “Scary Movie,” “Air” and “Requiem for a Dream.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews comedian George Lopez, who performs live at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. this Friday and Saturday nights. Lopez called in to preview the show, as well as reflect on his Grammy-nominated comedy albums and beloved TV sitcoms. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP's Jason Fraley catches up with comedian Lewis Black, who cracks up the Kennedy Center this Friday night with his "Final Tour" called “Goodbye Yeller Brick Road," though he insists that he isn't retiring from comedy. He also shares memories of growing up in the D.C. area before gaining fame on “The Daily Show” and as the voice of Anger in Pixar’s “Inside Out.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Cl...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Recording Academy C.E.O. Harvey Mason Jr. as Sheryl Crow will be honored at the annual Grammys on the Hill at The Hamilton in Washington D.C. tomorrow night. They discuss her impressive discography, as well as pressing issues that they'll advocate for on Capitol Hill from A.I. to ticket prices. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Nathan Lane, who receives Signature Theatre’s Sondheim Award at The Anthem in Washington D.C. on Monday. Lane discusses the big honor, shares his memories of Sondheim and marks the 30th anniversary of “The Lion King." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews comedian Dave Attell, who cracks up the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Friday, May 4. They preview the show, as well as hype his latest Netflix special "Hot Cross Buns" and debate the greatest standup comics of all time. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block as tickets go on sale to the Big Summer Tour at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on August 16. They discuss the band’s formation and biggest hits from “Hangin’ Tough” to “Step By Step," as well as what each member brings to the group. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated composer Terence Blanchard, who brings his acclaimed opera concert “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” to Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland this Friday night. They also reflect on his iconic film scores, from Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” and “BlackKlansman” to Kasi Lemmons’ “Eve’s Bayou” and “Harriet” to Gina Prince-Byth...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley catches up with six-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion Derek Hough, who performs “Symphony of Dance” live at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia this Wednesday night. They preview the show and recap his wife’s medical emergency the last time they were in the D.C. area in December, when she started feeling disoriented at MGM National Harbor and was rush...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews comedian Chelsea Handler, who performs live tomorrow night at The Lyric in Baltimore, Maryland. She joined me to preview the show, as well as TV memories of “Chelsea Lately” and her standup specials. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, who visits the Weinberg Center in Frederick, Maryland tonight for the Frederick Speaker Series. They discuss the state of art, culture and the world, while reflecting on Public Enemy’s biggest hits, including “Fight the Power," "Rebel Without a Pause,” “Don’t Believe the Hype” and “Shut ‘Em Down.” (Theme Music: Scot...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews D.C. native and Broadway producer Marjuan Canady, whose revival of “The Wiz” opens today at Broadway's Marquis Theatre before her brand new Alicia Keys musical “Hell’s Kitchen” premieres at Broadway's Schubert Theatre on Saturday. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews John Mellencamp's longtime guitarist Mike Wanchic ahead of Thursday night's show at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. They break down the band's most iconic hits, including “Hurts So Good,” “Jack & Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Authority Song” and “Small Town.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews "Everybody Loves Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal, who performs live at Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. this Thursday night. They also discuss the delicious D.C. restaurants highlighted on Netflix's "Somebody Feed Phil," as well as how he went from writing on the ABC sitcom "Coach" to creating Ray Romano's iconic CBS sitcom. (Theme Music: Scott...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews actor Aaron Tveit as tomorrow marks the 15th anniversary of the acclaimed musical “Next to Normal” premiering on Broadway on April 15, 2009. They spoke when he performed at The Barns at Wolf Trap in Virginia in 2018. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates National Submarine Day by doing a deep dive with Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald on the 10th anniversary of his 2014 submarine flick “Black Sea" starring Jude Law. They spoke when Macdonald ("State of Play," "The Last King of Scotland," "One Day in September") visited Washington D.C. back in 2015. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews actor John Savage as today marks the 45th anniversary of “The Deer Hunter” winning five Oscars, including Best Picture, on April 9th, 1979. They spoke in June 2020 when Savage guest starred in the CBS military drama series “SEAL Team." They also reflected on the legacy of “The Deer Hunter” where he played wounded Vietnam vet Corporal Steven Pushk...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Eric Drath, director of the documentary "The Dream Whisperer," chronicling NBA legend Dick Barnett’s quest to get his college basketball team inducted into the Hall of Fame. The team was finally honored at the White House yesterday, perhaps inspired by this interview on WTOP in Washington D.C. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more a...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews father and son Martin and Jesse Kove to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "The Karate Kid" (1984) and to preview their new western flick "Far Haven," which makes its linear TV premiere on the INSP network on Sunday, April 14. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices