Terry Gross

Dolly Parton has written thousands of songs, including "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You." In a 2001 interview with Fresh Air host Terry Gross, the actress and singer-songwrter describes how she went from East Tennessee to Nashville to worldwide stardom.

Rich, who sang "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl," joined Fresh Air host Terry Gross in 1992 for a conversation about his eclectic musical choices, his rise to fame in the 1970s and his chart-toppers. Rich died in 1995.

Though they work as a traditional African-American string band, Carolina Chocolate Drops' members throw in some modern twists. The Durham, N.C.-based trio plays a wide variety of instruments, including the banjo, fiddle, jug, bones and harmonica. All of those sounds are featured on the band's newest record, Genuine Negro Jig.

In 1988, the legendary flat picker and singer of traditional folk tunes spoke to Terry Gross about starting his musical career, touring with his son Merle and playing banjo during the folk revival of the 1950s and '60s.

Skaggs started performing as a child and was considered a musical prodigy. After a string of country hits in the 1980s, he returned to bluegrass, performing folk renditions of his own country hits. In 2003, Skaggs spoke to Fresh Air host Terry Gross about growing up in the music industry and playing with Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs.

Doe, of the L.A. punk band X, joined Canadian band The Sadies to perform songs from the album Country Club, covering classics from Merle Haggard to Tammy Wynette. He discusses several of his favorite tracks in a May 2009 interview with Fresh Air host Terry Gross.

The Louvin Brothers, Ira and Charlie, are considered one of the all-time great country-music duos. After Ira was killed in a 1965 car crash, his younger brother Charlie kept singing, eventually releasing nearly 20 albums over the course of four decades. In 1996, he spoke to Fresh Air host Terry Gross.

Before he became a leader of the outlaw country movement, Nelson worked for decades as a songwriter, pumping out hit after hit for other performers in Nashville. In 1996, he joined Terry Gross for a conversation about his most famous songs, including "Crazy," "The Family Bible" and "Night Life."

In 1996, country star Waylon Jennings, who helped found the "outlaw country" movement, joined Terry Gross for a discussion of his music, his work with Willie Nelson and Buddy Holly, and his time spend working in Nashville in the 1970s.

The country singer and guitarist, who helped create the Bakersfield sound, spent the early years of his life in and out of prison. After his final release, he recorded several hits about prison life, including "Mama Tried" and "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive." In 1995, he spoke to Terry Gross about his incarceration and his lengthy music career.