Conservatory educated but with deep roots in traditional music, Rhiannon Giddens has far-ranging musical interests and is eloquent about her mentors, inspirations, and the ongoing relevance of folk music to modern issues. She performed for the Obamas at the White House; she wrote the music for the touring ballet "Lucy Negro Redux"; and her original opera, "Omar," premiered at the Spoleto USA Festival in 2022. She curated a four-concert Perspectives series as part of Carnegie Hall’s 2022–2023 season, and she currently serves as artistic director of Silkroad Ensemble, which was founded in 2000 by cellist Yo-Yo Ma with a mission to promote cross-cultural collaboration.

Her lifelong mission is to lift up people whose contributions to American musical history have previously been neglected, and to work toward a more accurate understanding of our musical origins. This season’s featured guests on "My Music with Rhiannon Giddens" are singer-songwriter and activist Allison Russell; country music artist and artists’ advocate Rissi Palmer; indigenous Lumbee/Tuscarora singer Charly Lowry; Southern gothic blues artist Adia Victoria; virtuoso guitarist and singer Joy Clark; Rhiannon’s life partner and collaborator Francesco Turrisi; original Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founder Justin Robinson; Rhiannon’s sister, singer Lalenja Harrington; and longtime friend, singer-songwriter Laurelyn Dossett.