American Masters

History Series / 11 Seasons

American Masters, committed to producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.

1h 51m / TV-14

The Highwaymen: 'The Mount Rushmore of Country Music'

3m 16s

In 1985, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson formed a country supergroup: The Highwaymen. In this excerpt from The Highwaymen: Friends Till The End, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and others talk about how coming together as a group was crucial to their individual careers and the American music industry.

The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End - Promo

2m 32s

Discover the story behind the pioneering outlaw country music supergroup that featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, told through vintage performances and new interviews about life on the road and in the studio.

Willie Nelson Sings 'Always On My Mind' at Nassau Coliseum

2m 33s

"Willie cut 'Always on my Mind.' He called me the night he cut it and he said, listen to this. I heard it over the phone and I went wow, that’s a smash. That band was the same band that toured with Highwaymen every night." - Mark Rothbaum, manager of The Highwaymen

How Kris Kristofferson Convinced Cash to Record His Songs

1m 3s

How did Kris Kristofferson convince Johnny Cash to record his songs when he was just a janitor? In this outtake clip from The Highwaymen: Friends Till The End, John Carter Cash recalls how Kris Kristofferson flew a helicopter into Johnny Cash's yard to convince him to record his songs.

Filmmaker Jim Brown: The Highwaymen Had a Message

47s

Director and producer Jim Brown talks about the making of The Highwaymen: Friends Til The End, a documentary about Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson, who pioneered and led the outlaw country movement.

How the Highwaymen Became Family in Montreux

1m 2s

In this outtake of The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End, friends and family recall the how Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash all came together, along with their families, for a Christmas special in Montreux in 1984.

Janis: Little Girl Blue - Trailer

1m 19s

Janis Joplin thrilled audiences and blazed new creative trails before her death at age 27 in 1970. Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg examines Joplin’s story in depth, presenting an intimate portrait of a complicated and driven artist. The broadcast features a never-before-seen extended film cut with archival performance footage and new interviews with Joplin’s sister Laura Joplin and musicians.

How Janis Joplin Made the Hell's Angels Get Her Groceries

58s

Janis' one-time lover -- recalls Janis' encounter with a group of armed Hell's Angels. They had come to her house in the middle of the night, raiding her kitchen and making a commotion. When Niehaus failed to make them leave, Janis came out and told each one of them off, making them eventually leave and return with ten bags of fresh groceries to restock her refrigerator.

P!nk, Melissa Etheridge, Juliette Lewis can relate to Janis

53s

Musicians like Melissa Etheridge, Juliette Lewis and Alecia Moore (P!nk) can relate to how Janis Joplin must have felt each night after a big performance. The musicians talk about how you "cannot live out who you are on stage," and how destructive an absence of an off-stage life could be.

Janis Joplin's former lover: "She set me free"

1m 11s

David Niehaus had no idea who Janis Joplin was when they first met in Brazil. In this outtake clip, Niehaus remembers his relationship with Janis as a liberating, wild but delicate one, in which he witnessed her most vulnerable and tender moments. Even though the couple ultimately split as her relationship with heroin and alcohol grew, he still remembers Janis at her best.

Chan Marshall Talks About Voicing Janis Joplin's Letters

1m 25s

In this film outtake from Janis: Little Girl Blue, Chan “Cat Power” Marshall, who serves as the film’s narrator and provides the voice for Joplin-penned letters, discusses how she tapped into Joplin’s mindset for the documentary.

Director Amy Berg Brings Janis Back to Life

1m 30s

"I feel like her legacy has been so much about her death to this point, and I hope that people understand her life a little bit more and how much she loved life and performing and being Janis Joplin." Director Amy Berg had the ability to give the audience the public Janis and the private Janis - bringing the singer back to life.

Why Janis Joplin left Big Brother & the Holding Company

33s

In this excerpt from American Masters - Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue, Janis' letter home reveals a glimpse of the troubles she had with her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, until she finally decided to leave to form her own.

Merle Keeps You On Your Toes

3m 12s

In this outtake from Merle Haggard: Learning to Live With Myself, band members of The Strangers talk about Merle Haggard's unique and carefree performance style that ultimately pushed each musician to become better.

Letter Home Reveals Janis’ Greatest Ambition

54s

In this film excerpt from Janis: Little Girl Blue, Chan Marshall narrates Janis Joplin’s letter home to family shortly after her 27th (and last) birthday. The letter reveals a glimpse into her off-stage struggles, mostly rooted in her reckless lifestyle and strong desire to be loved.

Dick Cavett on Janis Joplin’s Influence

5m 6s

Dick Cavett, a former talk show host and TV personality, talks about his relationship with Janis Joplin and how her frequent appearance helped the show thrive. He also describes the unforgettable effect and depth of Joplin’s unique and captivating performance style.

Loretta Lynn: Lyricist and Songwriter

2m 33s

In this film excerpt from Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl, Sheryl Crow and Jack White talk about Loretta Lynn’s talent as a lyricist and songwriter, and Reba McEntire reveals her favorite Lynn song, "If You're Not Gone Too Long,” and sings some of it. Jack White breaks down the unique way Lynn writes choruses and verses.

Loretta Lynn Wrote for Women. Her Song "The Pill."

2m 15s

Loretta Lynn, Sissy Spacek and Sheryl Crow on Lynn's work and influence among women artists, and her song, "The Pill." The song about birth control was both banned and a top hit for Lynn, who has her own special brand of feminism. See archival footage of Lynn performing the songs she wrote: "The Pill" (1975) and "Wine, Women and Song" (1964).

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