By — Judy Woodruff Judy Woodruff By — Sarah Clune Hartman Sarah Clune Hartman Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-music-has-helped-tell-americas-story-from-the-very-beginning Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio Music has helped tell America's story from the very beginning, reflecting our triumphs, struggles and the many cultures and traditions that have shaped the country. On her “In Pursuit of Happiness” podcast, Judy Woodruff sat down with music historian Ted Gioia and music journalist Sidney Madden to explore how American music became a powerful expression of who we are. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Jul 30, 2026 By — Judy Woodruff Judy Woodruff Judy Woodruff is a senior correspondent and the former anchor and managing editor of the PBS News Hour. She has covered politics and other news for five decades at NBC, CNN and PBS. @judywoodruff By — Sarah Clune Hartman Sarah Clune Hartman