American Masters

American Masters - PBS

PBS

Franchise

1986

TVPG

Anthology

Documentary

Biography

Profiles the lives and creative journeys of America’s most enduring artistic and cultural giants.

Where to Stream

1985– Franchise 38 Seasons

Upcoming TV Airings

The airings below are based on a generic national schedule. Times and dates can vary by TV provider.

Wednesday, December 18

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Thursday, December 19

Roberta Flack

Season 37 • Episode 1

The life and career of Grammy Award-winning singer Roberta Flack.

Thursday, December 19

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Season 37 • Episode 9

Composer Max Roach's far-reaching ambitions were inspired by inequities of the society around him.

Friday, December 20

Keith Haring: Street Art Boy

Season 34 • Episode 7

Artist Keith Haring blazes a trail through the art scene of 1980s New York.

Friday, December 20

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Sunday, December 22

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Monday, December 23

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Wednesday, December 25

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Friday, December 27

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

Season 19 • Episode 7

Archival footage of Bob Dylan's childhood and life on the road.

Friday, December 27

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

Season 19 • Episode 8

Archive footage of Bob Dylan's childhood and life on the road.

Thursday, January 2

Twyla Moves

Season 35 • Episode 3

The career and creative process of choreographer Twyla Tharp, a pioneer of modern dance and ballet.

Thursday, January 2

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Friday, January 3

Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames

Season 38 • Episode 4

Blake Edwards redefined slapstick comedy through a lens that resonates with directors and actors.

Saturday, January 4

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Saturday, January 4

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Sunday, January 5

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

Season 38 • Episode 6

How Brenda Lee's early fame and life of poverty shaped her music.

Matt Roush

Matt Roush says...

The first woman to be inducted into both the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, Brenda Lee was only 13 when she recorded her signature Christmas ditty, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Many hits would follow, including “I’m Sorry,” propelling her into global stardom. (The Beatles were her opening act in Hamburg, Germany, in 1962.) American Masters profiles the musician in a special that includes interviews with Lee, now 80, and such admirers as Keith Urban, Tanya Tucker, Trisha Yearwood, Pat Benatar, producer Neil Giraldo and radio personality Shotgun Tom Kelly.

News aboutAmerican Masters

Harvey Guillen and Kayvan Novak in 'What We Do in the Shadows' Season 6

‘Shadows’ Signs off, Little Big Town’s Opry Christmas, More About Gibbs’ Origins, Rockin’ With Brenda Lee

Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 Episode 1

Double or Nothing on ‘Only Murders,’ Remembering Blake Edwards, Adam Sandler on Netflix, the Best in Horror

Blake Edwards and Julie Andrews on set of 'Victor/Victoria' in 1982
Fall Preview

How Blake Edwards & Julie Andrews’ Love Story Comes to Life in ‘American Masters’

Little Richard performs at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Remembering Little Richard, ‘Manifest’ Finale, Road Trip with Guy and ‘Searching for Soul Food’

Jason Ritter Is ‘Accused,’ Dr. Fauci on ‘American Masters,’ ‘Restaurants at the End of the World,’ ‘Will Trent’ Hostage Crisis

Rob Lowe - '9-1-1 Lone Star'

‘Lone Star’ Chaotic Carnival, ‘Auto’ Revs Up, Marlee Matlin Directs ‘Accused,’ ‘Masters’ Profiles Roberta Flack

Groucho Marx on The Dick Cavett Show

TV Talk with Groucho Marx and Dick Cavett, José Andrés in Spain, Chelsea Handler on Netflix, Prince Albert on Oceans

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys poses with a group of blonde women
Preview

‘Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road’ Shows New Side of Beach Boys Legend

Brian Wilson’s Road Trip, J.Lo’s ‘Halftime,’ ‘Mayans’ Finale, ‘Dateline’ Heads to Peacock

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Preview

‘Waterman — Duke: Ambassador of Aloha’: What We Learned About Duke Kahanamoku

Black History Month 2022 TV Round-Up, Cicely Tyson as Vivian in 'Bustin' Loose,' Jay Pharoah in 'Phat Tuesdays,' Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham in 'Star Trek: Discovery'

Black History Month 2022: Your Complete TV & Streaming Guide

West Side Story - Rita Moreno, 1961
Review

Roush Review: ‘American Masters’ Salutes Rita Moreno, an EGOT for All Time

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Netflix’s ‘Sweet Tooth,’ Stephen King’s ‘Lisey’s Story,’ A ‘Mythic’ Backstory and ‘Mosquito Coast’ Finale on Apple, Celebrating ‘Ballerina Boys’

Laura Ingalls Wilder Prairie to Page
Preview

PBS’s ‘American Masters’ Shares Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Story From ‘Prairie to Page’

WALTER WINCHELL THE POWER OF GOSSIP PICTURED

American Masters Examines How Walter Winchell Wielded ‘The Power of Gossip’

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‘Unladylike2020’ Highlights 5 Women Who Changed American Politics

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Worth Watching: Last Call for ‘Greenleaf,’ ‘Isolation Stories’ Filmed in Quarantine, Toni Morrison an ‘American Master’

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Toni Morrison Examines her Life and Works in ‘The Pieces I Am’ (VIDEO)

Mae West
Review

Roush Review: A Saucy Portrait of the Original ‘Dirty Blonde’

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Worth Watching: Remembering Miles Davis, Facing the Truth on ‘This Is Us,’ Pete Davidson on Netflix

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‘Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool’ Reveals the Man Behind the Jazz Legend

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‘Words From a Bear’ Looks at the Life of Pulitzer Prize Winner N. Scott Momaday

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Exclusive

PBS Kicks Off Hispanic Heritage Month With ‘Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage’ (VIDEO)

Ursula K. Le Guin

Beloved Sci-Fi Author Profiled in American Masters’ ‘Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin’

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‘All Things Are Photographable’: A Revealing Portrait of Photographer Garry Winogrand

KYLA KENEDY, MICAH FOWLER

Worth Watching: Separation Anxiety on ‘Speechless,’ ‘Widow’ on Amazon, Holly Near an ‘American Master’

Ted Williams

Ted Williams on ‘American Masters,’ Shark Week Goes Into the Abyss, ‘Bachelorette’ All Thai’d Up

Norman Lear

Norman Lear on His ‘American Masters’ Documentary and Making Politically Engaged TV

Mike Nichols directing The Graduate, 1967

What’s Worth Watching: Mike Nichols, the SAG Awards, Zombie Houses and More TV for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30

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Norman Lear Still Hopeful on ‘One Day at a Time’ Remake

American Ballet Theatre

What’s Worth Watching: PBS Gets Dance (Ballet) Fever

Ricky Jay

What’s Worth Watching: American Masters’ Magic Act