Welcome to Talking Culture! In this weekly interview series from 97.9 The Hill WCHL, you’ll hear from writers, performers, musicians and individuals involved in advancing and promoting cultural arts in our community.

Talking Culture is proudly sponsored by Duke Arts Presents. The 2025–26 Duke Arts Presents season is here! With 40 performances from September through April, the Duke Arts Presents season is packed with wide-ranging, joyful, and thought-provoking art for all audiences. Pick–4 packages are on sale now, build your perfect season at dukearts.org!

This week, we throw the spotlight on legendary jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon, a seven-time Grammy nominee whose new album “Beneath the Skin” steps into brand new territory.

Freelon has built her acclaimed career on covering standards, but “Beneath the Skin” consists almost entirely of originals – originals that can stand proudly along the very best and most beloved classics in the American songbook.

Click here to listen to Nnenna Freelon’s appearance on “Live & Local” earlier this year.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news and local voices in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck chats with government officials, UNC scholars, business and nonprofit leaders, area musicians, and others in our community as they share their thoughts, their experience, and their expertise on the central issues of today. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s conversations – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” at 7:30 a.m. on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live.

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