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On the eve of President's Day, a new work of historical fiction looks at former President Abraham Lincoln from a variety of perspectives, ranging from his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, to his assassin, John Wilkes Booth. NPR's Linda Wertheimer speaks with Adam Braver, author of Mr. Lincoln's Wars.

When CBS announced that it was going to remake The Beverly Hillbillies as a reality show, many Appalachian groups complained that they were being trivialized. Member station WMRA's Martha Woodroof reports.

Country music's Rose Maddox, who at age 11 embarked on a decades-long singing career, has died. Maddox became a big hit after World War II, touring with her four brothers. Their band was called, Maddox Brothers and Rose. She won a Grammy in 1996 for her CD, $35 And A Dream. Maddox died yesterday of kidney failure. She was 71 years old. NPR's Linda Wertheimer has this remembrance.

Country singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver has lived through some hard times, but nothing compares to the past three years. In that time, his mother, wife and son all died. Then Shaver suffered a massive heart attack. NPR's Bob Edwards interviews Shaver about his new CD and the therapeutic benefit of writing songs.

Curtis Mozie, 37, has videotaped events in Washington, D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood for two decades. He's captured a narrative of good times and bad. He hopes the tapes will help people realize the full impact of gang violence. NPR's Shannon Rhoades reports.

Actor Christopher Walken talks about starring in a Broadway musical adaptation of The Dead, which is based on the James Joyce story. The actor also talks about portraying one disturbing character after another.

Legendary guitarist and music producer Ry Cooder returns to Cuba to record with Cuban guitarist Manuel Galban. Their new CD Mambo Sinuendo creates a unique fusion of two cultures and two generations. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Cooder.

In space, one cannot hear sounds. But a new musical work -- commissioned by NASA -- is based on radio waves gathered from the far reaches of the solar system. For Morning Edition, Gayane Torosyan reports on Sun Rings, composed by Terry Riley and performed by the Kronos Quartet. The work includes sounds collected over 40 years by University of Iowa physicist Don Gurnett.

Leif Inge, an artist based in Oslo, Norway, has a new take on Ludwig van Beethoven's venerable Symphony no. 9.

In his book Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, author Ross King says the artist saw his commission to paint the Sistine Chapel as an attempt by enemies to set him up for failure. NPR's Michele Norris talks to King.