Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with author Paula Hawkins about her new murder mystery novel "A Slow Fire Burning." She also reflects on her best-seller "The Girl on the Train" and watching it be adapted by Hollywood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Louis Prima Jr., who performs at City Winery in Northeast D.C. on Thursday night. They spoke about his famous father's jazz, swing and big-band career, as well as him voicing King Louie in Disney's animated "The Jungle Book" to sing the iconic tune "I Wanna Be Like You." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with jazz great Dave Koz, who performs Thursday night at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. They spoke about his Grammy-nominated jazz career, as well as his approach to interviewing other musicians on his popular syndicated radio show that he's hosted since 1994. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Daily Show" legend Jon Stewart, who hosts a 9/11 tribute tonight at Madison Square Garden called “NYC Still Rising After 20 Years: A Comedy Celebration.” He visited D.C. in 2014 to discuss his directorial debut film “Rosewater” about Iran’s imprisonment of Western journalist Maziar Bahari, who you'll also hear in the interview. Just months later...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with legendary crooner Johnny Mathis, who performs live at Strathmore tomorrow night in North Bethesda, Maryland. They spoke in 2018 to break down his biggest hits, including "Chances Are," "It's Not For Me to Say" and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with jazz and hip-hop dynamo Robert Glasper, who kicks off his Kennedy Center residency today through Sept. 19. They spoke in 2020 about his stellar career, from his Grammy-winning collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on "These Walls" to his Emmy-winning duet with Common on "Letter to the Free" from the soundtrack of Ava DuVernay's documentary "13th." Le...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Whose Line is it Anyway?" alum Colin Mochrie, who joins Brad Sherwood for "Scared Scriptless" on Thursday night at Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. Mochrie reflects on the hilarious TV improv show, including bits with Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and host Drew Carey. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, who plays Merriweather Post Pavilion tomorrow night in Columbia, Maryland. They spoke in 2019 when James performed his album "The Order of Nature: A Song Cycle" at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with the one and only Darius Rucker, who performs live at Wolf Trap tomorrow night in Virginia. They spoke in 2016 about Rucker's rise from Hootie & The Blowfish to a rebirth in country music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, who stars in the hit Broadway musical "Waitress" today as the New York City theater scene reopens after the pandemic shutdown. They spoke in 2018 about the show's songbook, from "Opening Up" to "She Used to Be Mine," as well as the story behind her breakthrough pop hit "Love Song." Learn more about your ad choice...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, who joins Renee Elise Goldsberry for "Broadway in the Park" at Wolf Trap on Friday in a co-production with Signature Theatre. They discuss his prolific Broadway career, from "Ragtime" to "Kiss Me Kate," as well as singing out of his New York City window to spread hope during the pandemic. (Theme Music: Scott Buc...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Joe Walsh as The Eagles bring their "Hotel California" tour to Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. tonight. We spoke in 2015 about Walsh joining The Eagles in 1975, teaching country poets Don Henley and Glenn Frey how to rock. You'll also hear from Bob Seger and Darius Rucker, who both praised The Eagles on the red carpet at the 2016 Kennedy Cen...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with DJ Jazzy Jeff, who headlines a wine and music festival this Labor Day weekend at National Harbor. I spoke with the hip-hop legend about his music and TV journey alongside "The Fresh Prince" Will Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Editor Jason Fraley chats with acclaimed folk artist Willie Nile, who performs at The Hamilton in Washington D.C. tomorrow night. They spoke in 2017 about Nile's career alongside Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Ringo Starr. He also shares exclusive details on the night that John Lennon was murdered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Three Dog Night co-founder Danny Hutton, who brings his classic rock band to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday night. Hutton discusses moving from Boston to Hollywood before creating the band's biggest hits, from “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” to "Joy to the World."Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Charley Pride as Country Music Television airs a special tribute to the late country legend tonight on "CMT Giants." Pride died in 2020, two years after joining WTOP to discuss his journey as the Jackie Robinson of country music with huge hits like "Kiss an Angel Good Morning." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Rob Reiner as the National Symphony Orchestra performs "The Princess Bride" live in concert at Wolf Trap this week. They spoke in 2017 when Reiner came to Washington D.C. to promote his movie "LBJ." Stick around to the end for a rapid-fire run through his prolific filmography from "This is Spinal Tap!" to "Stand By Me," from "When Harry Met Sally...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Oscar-winning visual effects wizard Phil Tippett, who just directed the new animated feature "Mad God." Tippett discusses growing up watching stop-motion classics like "King Kong" before creating his own groundbreaking effects for "Star Wars," "Robocop" and "Jurassic Park." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with actor Sean Astin, who attends Awesome Con this weekend at the Washington Convention Center in D.C. They discuss his blockbuster career of "The Goonies," "Rudy" and "The Lord of the Rings." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with WWE's Paul Heyman, who manages Roman Reigns against John Cena tonight at SummerSlam. Jason spoke with Heyman ahead of SummerSlam 2015 when he was managing Brock Lesnar's rematch vs. The Undertaker after snapping the Deadman's famous WrestleMania undefeated streak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with music superstar Harry Connick Jr., who croons into Wolf Trap tonight in Virginia. They discuss his New Orleans roots, singing "It Had to Be You" in "When Harry Met Sally," transitioning to acting in "Independence Day" and "Will & Grace," and judging on "American Idol." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer about his new movie "Charming the Hearts of Men." Grammer also shares his memories of "Cheers," "Frasier" and voicing Sideshow Bob in "The Simpsons." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Grammy-winning country star Kathy Mattea, who plays The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday night. They discussed her biggest hits from "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" to "Where've You Been," written by her husband as a true story about his grandmother's last words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Pure Prairie League member Michael Reilly ahead of the band's show tomorrow night at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. They discuss creating the band name, recording hit songs like "Amie" and discovering future country star Vince Gill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Zac Brown Band members Coy Bowles and Clay Cook ahead of their show Thursday at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. You'll also hear from Zac Brown himself at the 2016 Grammys on the Hill event in Washington D.C.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices