Musical History | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/musical-history/RSS feed for Musical HistoryenThu, 27 Aug 2026 14:34:47 +0000Freddie Mercury's Boundary-Pushing Costumes Take Center Stage at the Victoria and Albert Museum to Mark the 80th Anniversary of His Birthhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/freddie-mercurys-boundary-pushing-costumes-take-center-stage-at-victoria-and-albert-museum-to-mark-80th-anniversary-his-birth-180989403/Eight ensembles from the Queen frontman's career will be displayed across six stops in the London museum's permanent galleries, offering a glimpse into the clothes behind his legendary stage personaThu, 27 Aug 2026 14:34:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/freddie-mercurys-boundary-pushing-costumes-take-center-stage-at-victoria-and-albert-museum-to-mark-80th-anniversary-his-birth-180989403/Dolly Parton Was One of the Biggest Stars in the History of Country Music. She Wanted to Be Remembered as a Songwriterhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/dolly-parton-was-one-of-the-biggest-stars-in-the-history-of-country-music-she-wanted-to-be-remembered-as-a-songwriter-180989405/After growing up in poverty, she became famous for her legendary songs, big heart and larger-than-life style. But the iconic musician insisted that "the songs lead to everything else"Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:58:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/dolly-parton-was-one-of-the-biggest-stars-in-the-history-of-country-music-she-wanted-to-be-remembered-as-a-songwriter-180989405/A.I. Went to the Opera, Creating Images for an Anniversary Production of Wagner's 'Ring Cycle' at the Theater Where He First Staged the Masterpiecehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-went-to-the-opera-projecting-images-for-an-anniversary-production-of-wagners-ring-cycle-at-the-theater-where-he-first-staged-the-masterpiece-180989270/It took Richard Wagner a quarter-century to complete the four-part opera. The new production, called "10010110," uses generative artificial intelligence to explore the artwork’s evolutionWed, 05 Aug 2026 21:03:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-went-to-the-opera-projecting-images-for-an-anniversary-production-of-wagners-ring-cycle-at-the-theater-where-he-first-staged-the-masterpiece-180989270/Audio Engineers Restored Hidden Notes and Revealed Lost Instruments in This New Treasure Trove of Songs by the Pioneering 'Mother of the Blues'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/audio-engineers-restored-hidden-notes-and-revealed-lost-instruments-in-this-new-treasure-trove-of-songs-by-the-pioneering-mother-of-the-blues-180989228/The 118-track collection is the most complete set ever compiled of recordings by American blues icon Ma RaineyThu, 30 Jul 2026 20:14:54 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/audio-engineers-restored-hidden-notes-and-revealed-lost-instruments-in-this-new-treasure-trove-of-songs-by-the-pioneering-mother-of-the-blues-180989228/A.I. Music Is Already Here. To Protect Human Artists, the Record Industry Proposes New Labels, Like Those for Explicit Lyricshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-music-is-already-here-to-protect-human-artists-the-record-industry-proposes-labels-for-it-like-those-for-explicit-lyrics-180989128/The proposal comes as A.I.-generated music makes up an increasing share of what’s available on streaming platformsWed, 15 Jul 2026 18:47:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-music-is-already-here-to-protect-human-artists-the-record-industry-proposes-labels-for-it-like-those-for-explicit-lyrics-180989128/Country Music Legend Dolly Parton's Autobiographical Musical Exploring Her Journey From East Tennessee Will Hit Broadway This Winterhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/country-music-legend-dolly-partons-autobiographical-musical-exploring-her-journey-from-east-tennessee-will-hit-broadway-this-winter-180989099/"Dolly: A True Original Musical" premiered last year in Nashville in Parton's home stateThu, 09 Jul 2026 19:27:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/country-music-legend-dolly-partons-autobiographical-musical-exploring-her-journey-from-east-tennessee-will-hit-broadway-this-winter-180989099/