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- [00:01]
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- [00:18]
Tonya Mosley
This is FRESH air. I'm Tonya Mosley and I recently had the chance to check out the movie Amelia Perez, the new Spanish language musical that stars my guest today, Selena Gomez. The film is centered on a lawyer named Rita, played by Zoe Saldana, who is kidnapped and tasked with helping a ruthless Mexican cartel leader secretly undergo gender affirming surgery to begin a new life. As Amelia Perez, Selena Gomez plays Jesse Del Monte, the wife of the cartel leader who knows nothing about her husband's transition and is led to believe that Emilia Perez is a distant cousin. The film is almost entirely in Spanish and Gomez, who grew up speaking it but lost fluency, took lessons to prepare for the role. Here she is singing a stirring performance of Bienvenida, which means welcome, Bienvenida.
- [01:26]
Selena Gomez
Y gracias.
- [01:47]
Tonya Mosley
That's Selena Gomez singing in the new Netflix movie musical Emilia Perez. As an ensemble. Gomez, along with Zoe Saldana and Carla Sofia Gascon, who portrays both Amelia Perez and the cartel leader before she transitions, won the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for Best Actress. Selena Gomez is an actor, singer and the founder of the successful cosmetic line Rare Beauty. She began acting in 2002 at 10 years old on the television series Barney and Friends. She went on to star in several Disney shows before her breakout role in the series the Wizards of Waverly Place. As a musician, she's had 16 consecutive top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest active run of any artist, and she's the most followed woman on Instagram. We talked about some of her struggles with such a high level of fame and her diagnosis of lupus and bipolar disorder. Gomez was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in the mystery comedy series Only Murders in the Building alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short. Selena Gomez, welcome to FRESH air.
- [02:57]
Selena Gomez
Thank you. That was such a lovely introduction.
- [02:59]
Tonya Mosley
I was wondering, you spent, was it nearly half a year training preparing for this role, learning Spanish. You actually grew up speaking Spanish until something happened. It took a turn where you weren't speaking it anymore.
- [03:13]
Selena Gomez
I was fluent when I was seven and before then all up until then. But I got my first job at seven and most of my jobs from that point on were English and I moved from Texas to California to pursue my dream with Disney and I again just lost it. And, you know, and that's kind of the case for a Lot of people, especially Mexican American, I think, you know, my cousins and people in our lives, it's so dominated by English speaking people, which is fine. But I wish I had had more. I wish I just knew a lot more than I do. But I think that's why I try to honor my culture as much as possible. From releasing an album in Spanish to, you know, wanting to pursue this movie that I thought would be an incredible challenge. And I don't think it'll be the last thing I do in Spanish.
- [04:15]
Tonya Mosley
Do you feel more fluent in it now?
- [04:17]
Selena Gomez
I do. And don't try to talk anything around me because I will know what you're saying if you think that I can. I just have a hard time responding sometimes to like form the sentence correctly.
- [04:29]
Tonya Mosley
Right. Because even though you weren't speaking it, did you feel like you could understand it when you heard other folks speak it?
- [04:35]
Selena Gomez
Completely. It's also, you know, Spanish is one of the most beautiful languages and the inflections and the melody behind how they speak, it's very telling and it's a very emotional language, I think.
- [04:53]
Tonya Mosley
Let's talk a little bit about the themes in the movie. She's looking for freedom because she's married to this very brutal drug kingpin and so all the things that go along with that life. She has two children by him. It's not explicitly said, but it seems as if maybe she got married when she was very young to him.
- [05:15]
Selena Gomez
That's correct.
- [05:17]
Tonya Mosley
There's a transformation with your husband from male to female, but there's also a transformation of this character. She's like a dormant volcano of a wife. And we watch her as she goes through. And I wanna play a clip. And this clip I'm about to play, it's several years after her husband has had the transition. She thinks he's dead, she goes back to Mexico and she connects with a man who really is the love of her life. And in this scene, the two of you, this man, you and this man, you all are in a club and you're singing the song Mi Camino. Let's listen. That's my guest, Selena Gomez, singing the song Mi Camino in the musical film Amelia Perez. Okay, Selena, this is a liberation song.
- [07:01]
Selena Gomez
It is. It's so beautiful. I'm so proud of it.
- [07:04]
Tonya Mosley
The words. I'm going to read a little bit of the words in English. If I fall into the ravine, it's my ravine. If I double the pain, it's my pain. If I send myself to the seventh heaven, it's my heaven. If I lose my way it's still mine I want to love myself It's a liberation song. And to me, without, like, being too sappy about it, I feel like it sounds familiar to your life path. Do you see that?
- [07:30]
Selena Gomez
Yeah, actually, I do. It's. It was one of the most emotional songs that I got to record during the process of shooting this movie. And I remember just singing it and thinking to myself, this could have been my song. You know, this could have been a, you know, me song on an album I would put out personally because it's so well said, and it feels very true to who I am, to where I am. I think that when I do make mistakes, I don't feel like I should or necessarily need to be punished for them. It's something that I feel like I need to grow and learn from. And I think that sometimes there's been moments in my career where people weren't allowing me to grow up, weren't allowing me to make choices that wasn't exactly what they thought I should be doing.
- [08:33]
Tonya Mosley
Acting, as you said, has always been your first love. We're gonna get into some things. Like, I can't believe Girl Interrupted is one of the first films you saw. Like what?
- [08:43]
Selena Gomez
I'm sorry, Mom.
- [08:44]
Tonya Mosley
I know.
- [08:45]
Selena Gomez
Sorry, Mom. Yeah, no, my mom was. You know, she was so. I just remember feeling like she was the coolest person ever. She's still cool, but as a kid, I looked up to her so much.
- [08:59]
Tonya Mosley
But she kind of was. I mean, she was 16 when she had you, so she was a young mom.
- [09:03]
Selena Gomez
Oh, yeah.
- [09:03]
Tonya Mosley
She was a young, cool mom.
- [09:04]
Selena Gomez
We were like sisters in a way. And she loved. She loved everything about art. And I remember sometimes she would let me watch things, but she would do the old. Cover your ears and eyes. Like, be careful. So, yeah, she was young. Maybe I shouldn't have watched some of the things they did. However, I think I fell in love with it for the right reasons. It was a whole range of different styles. And we'd watch French films or we'd watch anything. That kind of sparked something in my mom. And she would explain things to me, and I would always ask questions, and I was inquisitive about the work. And it wasn't just an experience for me. I wanted to know everything. And I think that's where it kind of stemmed from.
- [09:59]
Tonya Mosley
Do you remember the first time you were on stage? Your first performance?
- [10:03]
Selena Gomez
Yeah. The funny thing is, I wasn't in any school plays necessarily. I was seven when I auditioned for Barney, which is the big purple dinosaur. If people don't remember. But I was in line. It was 1,400 kids, and it was in Texas. And I waited in line for a while, and I just thought, here's my chance. I could do something really cool.
- [10:31]
Tonya Mosley
You thought that in the moment?
- [10:32]
Selena Gomez
Yeah. I just thought, this is something I really want to do, and I hope I get it. And I went to three rounds of callbacks. They were very serious about Barney back in the day, and I got the part. And it would have to be the first time I stepped foot on the set of Barney. It was magical. Not to mention, I'm seven and they make it for kids. You know, they make it this beautiful experience. And the sets are gorgeous. And I just got the bug immediately. I had school there as well, A bunch of kids I got to grow up with. And at the same time, maybe Barney taught me how to clean and how to say, I love you, and.
- [11:23]
Tonya Mosley
Right, because you're taking in all the lessons that you all are teaching us, too. Acting is your first love. Music is also what you are known for. Worldwide, huge fan base. You've called it a hobby that kind of got out of control.
- [11:40]
Selena Gomez
Yeah, and I think I need to correct that, because I think whenever I do interviews that are written, I think it's very challenging for me because it gets a little misunderstood. Music is going to forever be a part of my soul. I was named after a tejano singer. My dad was a dj. My mom listened to Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, you know, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Wright. Like, I grew up around music and every genre. So what I meant by that was it did kind of, you know, take over for a while. And it's not that I was upset or bothered by it. It was more so that I had missed, and I was really craving something different. So I think that may have gotten a little, you know, confusing, because it doesn't, you know, to me, when I hear that, it makes me seem ungrateful, but it's not. So I'm glad you brought that up, because, you know, that is something that I love deeply. I just really missed being on a set and creating content that had nothing to do with me.
- [12:58]
Tonya Mosley
Well, for those who don't watch it, only murders in the building. The Hulu series is centered on you, Martin Short and Steve Martin. You guys are a trio of residents in this really beautiful up west side apartment building called the Arconia, and you set out to investigate a string of murders in the building and start a true crime podcast to chronicle the investigation. Martin Short has Said like in all of the interviews, just how much fun you guys have on the set. He alludes it to being kind of exceptional in that way. What makes it fun?
- [13:33]
Selena Gomez
Well, first off, Steve Martin and Martin Short are legends in their own right.
- [13:41]
Martin Short
Yes.
- [13:41]
Selena Gomez
And it is very difficult to keep a straight face when you're talking to them about anything because they simply exude and radiate comedy.
- [13:54]
Tonya Mosley
How do you do it? Because you're the straight man of the three.
- [13:56]
Selena Gomez
I know, but I mean, I just have to. I gotta get through it. You know, once we do the table read and they'll chime in, it's. It is challenging. But I think the best part of Only Murders is the environment. And I think that's what Marty is referring to. Because these two actors who have been working longer than I've been alive are always on time. Could not be more compassionate and kind to everyone. Class act, intelligence. Their humor is smart and wise and they'll sit down and talk to, you know, our camera guy and ask how his daughter's doing. And it just, to me was a very good place for me to start back into acting. It just was safe and it was so fun and they made it feel like it was. They just made it feel like it was home.
- [14:57]
Tonya Mosley
How did the role come about for you?
- [15:00]
Selena Gomez
So Steve came up with the idea himself, not about me. He originally wanted the show to be three comedians, three guys. And John Hoffman came in, who's the co creator, and said, I have this idea, this maybe unconventional, you know, relationship or friendship that these, you know, people care about. So what if we had, you know, like a 28 year old and Steve, you know, was like, well, let me know your ideas or whatever, you know, you're thinking. And John got on a call with me and I had told him how much I, you know, will watch 48 Hours or with my mom, I'd watch, you know, Forensic Files or the night.
- [15:47]
Tonya Mosley
You'Re into the true crime stuff.
- [15:48]
Selena Gomez
I think that he, it was music to his ears and he was very genuine and sweet. And after the call, they offered me the part.
- [15:59]
Tonya Mosley
I wanna play a clip from season one. So you all live in the same apartment and you don't really know each other that well, but you're starting to come into this idea that something really fishy is happening here. Your character Mabel is joining the two others in Oliver's apartment. And Oliver is played by Martin Short and Charles is played by Steve Martin. Let's listen.
- [16:23]
Selena Gomez
Oh, how did you get here? It was open.
- [16:26]
Tonya Mosley
I don't lock my Door.
- [16:27]
Selena Gomez
Never have. That's insane.
- [16:29]
Tonya Mosley
It's neighborly.
- [16:30]
Selena Gomez
I mean, a murderer probably lives in the building, but I guess old white guys are only afraid of colon cancer and societal change. Sad. A murderer doesn't probably live in the building. A murderer definitely lives in the building. Lester checked all the security footage, and.
- [16:44]
Steve Martin
No one unknown to him came in or out during the hours around Tim's murder.
- [16:48]
Selena Gomez
Isn't that great? So, Mabel, tell us, did you learn anything from the online world of Tim Kono? He didn't post much in his online world. He seems to have had a really sad, quiet life. You checked all the websites? Yep, all the websites. Well, we've exhausted the Internet.
- [17:10]
Tonya Mosley
That's my guest. Selena Gomez with Martin Short and Steve Martin in the very popular Hulu series, Only Murders in the Building. Selena, there's such a tenderness to your relationships with those guys that seems like it's only grown over the seasons. I was watching, I think I saw you and Martin Short on a TV show recently, and you were showing him how to put on makeup from your rare beauty line. And it felt natural and connected, like you all. Are you friends?
- [17:40]
Selena Gomez
Yes. And it's an absolute joy. They'll joke and laugh and say, oh, we didn't know what to expect when we met Selena, but I don't know. By the first week of us working together, they. They really took me under their wing. They didn't make me feel separate because I was younger. They made me feel incredibly included. If they would change a joke or want to try something different, they would always incorporate me into the conversation. And they respected me, and I felt safe. You know, these are gentlemen that want nothing from me but to have a great at work and create bonds with everybody on set. And they disarm people by their kindness. So, yeah, I've done interviews or I've been upset on days of, you know, working if I got bad news. And they're protective, they listen, they give great advice. That's something I'll cherish. It could have been totally different. It could have been, you know, hard to connect. But they are genuinely wonderful people. And it's just been a huge blessing. Cause I get emotional thinking about it. Cause I really do love them, and they care about me a lot.
- [19:10]
Tonya Mosley
Meryl Streep starred in season three, and you mentioned how in awe you were those first days on the set. What did you learn working with her?
- [19:20]
Selena Gomez
Class act. Absolute class act. I always tell this story about her because I think it just sums who she is up really well. She was on set and because of course, she's Meryl. We wanted to shoot her out so that she would have a shorter day out of respect for her and her schedule. So we would shoot her scenes and then we could say, okay, you can go home. And someone would replace her and they would do the other actors. She refused. She said, no, I'm staying for all the actors. And it was probably 13 hours that she was on that set and the camera wasn't on her once. And she was thrilled to be there. She was so communicative to everyone. She would walk around barefoot, humming music, listening to folk music. She she doesn't take herself too seriously. You know, she's something. She wrote a comment about something that said that she was overrated and she laughed and she was, well, maybe they're right, you know, like she just has a good sense of humor about the icon that she is and she doesn't look at herself that way. And I like that.
- [20:43]
Tonya Mosley
Our guest today is Selena Gomez. We'll be right back after a short break. I'm Tanya Mosley and this is FRESH air.
- [20:50]
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- [21:02]
Tonya Mosley
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Steve Martin
Why would we want to rush you.
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- [21:18]
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- [21:44]
Tonya Mosley
This is FRESH air. I'm Tanya Moseley and today my guest is Selena Gomez. She stars in the new Spanish language musical Emilia Perez as Jesse Del Monte, the wife of a cartel leader who secretly undergoes gender affirming surgery to begin a new life as Amelia Perez. Selena Gomez is an actor, singer and the founder of the successful cosmetic line Rare Beauty. She began acting in 2002 on the television series Barney and Friends and she went on to star in several Disney shows before her breakout role in the series the Wizards of Waverly Place, playing the lead as Alex Russo. As a musician, she's had 16 consecutive top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest active run of any artist. And she's also founded the Beauty line, rare beauty, and stars in the mystery comedy series Only Murders in the Building alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short. You're 32 years old, right?
- [22:43]
Selena Gomez
Yes.
- [22:44]
Tonya Mosley
And you have so many firsts. And your first not only I mentioned the Billboard 100, you also were one of the 10 highest paid children TV stars of all time.
- [22:58]
Selena Gomez
Oh dear. I don't even think I've read that anymore.
- [23:01]
Tonya Mosley
Oh, that one's not on your list of like your firsts, but your role on the Disney show Wizards of Waverly. I got the sense from your 2022 documentary My Mind and Me that you have kind of a complicated relationship with your Disney years, that it made you feel like a product. In what ways did it feel like that?
- [23:23]
Selena Gomez
I think during the period I was shooting the documentary, the context of what I felt was unfair is that I don't regret or dislike Disney. I think Disney gave me my platform and I will forever owe them for that. Because I was able to do incredible things doesn't mean that I wasn't frustrated with other people not willing to ask me more in depth questions to just write me off, because I was that. So my frustration has not necessarily ever been with Disney. It's just been with the idea that people would not take anything I was saying that seriously. If it was me talking about philanthropy, if it was me wanting to talk about something important, it was, do you like marshmallows? And you know, so you were on Disney and it's like they just, it just felt so crippling. And I, at that point when I shot the documentary hadn't moved on into doing other things. So I just was a little frustrated. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm 32 and now I'm doing a reunion of Wizards of Waverly Place and I'm back and I'm proud and you know, so it was never really that. It was just more people not talking to me.
- [25:01]
Tonya Mosley
What do you think you might have been if you didn't go into acting?
- [25:06]
Selena Gomez
I'm not sure. I really. Every time someone asks me that, I get so perplexed because I was so young when I started. So I don't even know what I would have figured out what that looks like. I have an 11 year old sister and I could not be more proud of the fact that she is like, I don't know what I want to do yet. Sissy. And I'm like, okay, that's Great. You don't have to know right now. You can explore. She's just adventurous and she's able to be a kid, and I love that. I admire that. For me, I'm not sure what I would have done. There wasn't many opportunities where I came from. I'm very proud of where I came from, but I'm not sure. I guess I'm really not sure what I would have done.
- [25:54]
Tonya Mosley
Grand Prairie, Texas, how would you describe it?
- [25:58]
Selena Gomez
It's a very little, simple town. Like, they still have the same diner there that my uncle used to go to, and the park that I was able to walk to on my own. The neighborhood. I still know the neighbors that have lived there their whole life. I love it. It's just for me. My mom wanted me to show me that there were more things in the world, and I'm really grateful for that.
- [26:29]
Tonya Mosley
I had a chance to talk with Tyler James Williams a few months ago, another child actor who has gone on to do great things. And like you, he says, like, he really couldn't imagine himself doing anything else in life. From a very young age, he knew that was what he wanted. But he also talked about some of the dark sides of being a child actor, and he survived because of his parents. He says he feels like, though, this is an industry that is not really for children, that it eats them up and spits them out. You have been able to have a successful career. And he finds. I just want to say, like he said, he thinks that anyone who has come out of it whole is a success, even if you're not in show business.
- [27:20]
Selena Gomez
I thought, that's very nice.
- [27:21]
Tonya Mosley
Yeah. I want to know how you feel about that, because it seems that folks like Tyler have a complicated relationship with even the use of children in Hollywood.
- [27:31]
Selena Gomez
Yeah, I mean, I think my perspective goes both ways. You know, I. I think that there is a point in your life where you have to just. You have to let yourself be a kid. And I think the dark sides that, you know, I would reflect on is the fact that I couldn't have a private life. I couldn't necessarily do things because I was held to a specific standard of, like, you know, I'm a Disney kid and children look up to me, and. And all of that stuff was really difficult. I just. I don't want to necessarily. I guess I'm just trying to think about this because I know that there are incredible actors that have come out of this whole industry, but I think you can say that about anything sometimes. I guess what I'd say is I am actually glad that my sister doesn't want to do that right now, at least. I just think it is pretty dangerous. You're around adults. People say things. People, you know, do things that maybe you just shouldn't be exposed to. And the moment I first started experiencing fame, it wasn't something that I thought was cool. It got really, you know, weird for me. It felt uncomfortable. I remember being 15, at the beach with my family, and it was one of the first times there were, like, five grown men taking photographs of me coming out of the water. And I was sitting there, and my stepdad got really upset because something seems extremely wrong with that underage. I'm so. It just. To me, that's the stuff that I don't think is right. And I just. It threw me off for a bit.
- [29:37]
Tonya Mosley
But it sounds like your mother, your family, protected you.
- [29:42]
Selena Gomez
They did. And here's the thing. My parents did the best with what they got. And they were 16 and 15, and they did their best. And it wasn't always perfect, but they, especially my mom and my stepdad, specifically made sure that they held up these boundaries that sometimes I'd get mad at, but they were necessary. You know, for example, you're inviting kids to this beautiful premiere, and they're walking the carpet and experiencing all this attention, and that can be overwhelming. Then I have the after party, and that's when kids can come and all the adults start drinking, and all the stuff starts going on at a very young age. My mom said, you're there to walk the carpet for your job, but then you're going home. And I'd always say, well, they're gonna stay, and my other friend's gonna stay, and she said, you're not old enough. When you're old enough, you'll go to the parties and have all the fun, but right now, you're going home, and you can invite a friend over and just be. Watch a movie, you know? And I do have to say she was very good at that stuff. And. Sorry, I'll just add. And in rooms. My mom never let me go into any room without her.
- [31:09]
Tonya Mosley
You mean like an audition room or a room to practice or a room for.
- [31:12]
Selena Gomez
Room for, like, meetings, Room for anything. Not necessarily auditions, but I did a lot on tape, so. But she was right by the door, you know, My mom was very protective of me in the best possible way. And though maybe it didn't make much sense to me then, I could not be more grateful now.
- [31:35]
Tonya Mosley
Yeah, let's take a short break. If you're just joining us. My guest is Selena Gomez. She stars in the new movie Emilia Perez. We'll continue our conversation after a short break. This is FRESH air.
- [31:48]
Selena Gomez
This is Ira Glass of this American Life. Each week on our show, we choose.
- [31:52]
Steve Martin
A theme, tell different stories on that theme.
- [31:55]
Selena Gomez
All right, I'm just going to stop right there. You're listening to an NPR podcast. Chances are you know our show.
- [32:00]
Steve Martin
So instead I'm going to tell you.
- [32:03]
Selena Gomez
We'Ve just been on a run of really good shows lately, some big, epic, emotional stories and some weird, funny stuff, too. Download us this American Life.
- [32:12]
Ken Tucker
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- [32:39]
Tonya Mosley
If you listen on the regular to the FRESH AIR podcast, then I know you'll love some of the other NPR podcasts, too. Here's why NPR is worth your time and money. You get perks like sponsor free listening, bonus episodes, early access, shop discounts and more for over 20 different NPR podcasts like this one. Support what you love and stop hearing promos like this1@plus.npr.org this is FRESH AIR. And today I am talking to Selena Gomez. She stars in the new musical film Emilia Perez as Jessie Del Monte, the wife of a cartel leader who secretly undergoes gender affirming surgery to begin a new life as Emilia Perez. I'd like to talk with you just a moment about your journey to understanding your mental health. Can you talk to us about what that journey was like because you were also dealing with the lupus diagnosis. And so it's you growing into yourself as an adult. A lupus diagnosis and then a bipolar diagnosis.
- [33:46]
Selena Gomez
Yeah, well, they both actually didn't happen at the same time. I was about 16 or 17 maybe, or 18. I'm sorry, it's one of those three. When I found out that I had lupus and I had to do I was in the ICU for a few weeks and then I had to undergo a slight chemotherapy for a while, a couple of months. And by the grace of whatever you believe, I was able to put it in remission. So I will always have lupus, but it is in remission, thankfully. But it wasn't necessarily that, that fixed everything. It definitely fixed my health. I'm so grateful for doctors. I'm so grateful for people that, you know, can do things for us. So my body was feeling great, but I was still just so confused as to why I had all these things. And I wasn't happy. I understood that I had circumstances that made me unhappy, but I knew deep down that I was feeling things intensely way too high and way too low. And you know, I've always been really open about it and it didn't take me overnight to find out what it was. You know, you have to give yourself time to understand and work with people that maybe understand it more and get second opinions. And so I would say my diagnosis was actually a huge relief. I felt so much better because how I would, you know, go through these emotions were really painful. And when I figured out, you know, it wasn't like it solved everything, but I was able to navigate how to pursue my life and I immediately felt relief. So I know people may think, oh, that's scary. I'm that that means she's crazy to me. That gave me answers and that knowledge gave me freedom. And then now I am being treated for all of it and I feel completely level headed. I feel happy when I need to and of course I get emotional and I'm really grateful I found my balance.
- [36:14]
Tonya Mosley
There was a moment where you felt like you needed to stop for a moment in your career where you needed to take a break to try to really figure out. Can you talk a little bit about those times when you knew you needed to seek help outside of yourself? I mean, I will just say from a personal experience, the thing that's so. I don't want to use the term insidious, but like, about mental health is that like you're the only one who's dealing with it and you're the only one who can help fix it, like by understanding that you need help?
- [36:47]
Selena Gomez
Yes. I've never, I think people have to get there on their own because I had people care about me and were concerned and would talk to me, but I didn't see anything. You know, I was, I would avoid it. I think denial and avoiding things is, you know, pretty natural for any human to feel. But I was just tired of feeling that way and that's what made me seek the help that I wanted and needed and not sure what it was going to look like. So yeah, it's very terrifying. But I just knew that everybody gets to their place where they really want to change because it's hard you know, it's hard to feel confused. It's hard to feel hurt. It's hard to feel any of these emotions. But at an intense level, it can be really scary and dangerous. So before anything happened, I was grateful that I said, all right, I'm gonna go and I'm gonna do the things that, you know, will hopefully help me understand more. And that still took me four years. So even when I sought, you know, help and was able to, you know, meet different doctors and different people, it wasn't until four years of searching that I found my diagnosis and I was properly medicated. And it felt so freeing. So that's why I always encourage people when they're going through a hard time to have such patience because it doesn't happen right away. It truly has to be something that you need to dance with for a bit. That's why in my documentary, I end it by saying, you know, I'm not scared of my bipolar anymore. I'm just making it my friend.
- [38:45]
Tonya Mosley
Selena Gomez, this has been such a pleasure to talk with you.
- [38:48]
Selena Gomez
It's been so nice.
- [38:50]
Tonya Mosley
Selena Gomez stars in the new movie Amelia Perez. Coming up, rock critic Ken Tucker reviews some new country music. This is FRESH air.
- [39:02]
Selena Gomez
Ever look up at the stars and.
- [39:03]
Ken Tucker
Wonder what's out there?
- [39:06]
Tonya Mosley
On shortwave, we ask big questions about our universe, from baby galaxies to the search for alien life. We explore the celestial science behind these questions. Listen now to the shortwave podcast from npr. On shortwave, we know the human body is this amazing, singular thing capable of facing down all kinds of infection and disease, from managing UTIs to cancer to Long Covid. Our show is dedicated to destigmatizing our relationship to our bodies. Listen to the shortwave podcast from NPR.
- [39:48]
Ken Tucker
Okay, so does this sound like you? You love NPR's podcasts. You wish you could get more of all your favorite shows, and you want support NPR's mission to create a more informed public. If all that sounds appealing, then it is time to sign up for the NPR bundle. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
- [40:13]
Tonya Mosley
Rock critic Ken Tucker has been listening to some recent country releases, and he hears some exciting blends of old and new sounds. Country veteran Dwight Yoakum has recorded a harmonious duet with Post Malone. Country superstar Maren Morris is stretching beyond country's borders. And Shawna Thompson, half of the duo Thompson Square, has chosen to look back to the roots of Honky Tonk. Ken Tucker reviews them all. Here's Dwight Yoakum with a new song called A Dream that Never Ends.
- [40:55]
Martin Short
It's all right it's okay if you leave me if you must go know that I will understand but till then I will hope the dream that.
- [41:28]
Steve Martin
Earlier this year, Post Malone put out his first country album, one in which he gave his hip hop phrasing a twang that did not seem insincere in duets with a whole passel of country stars. One of those stars was not Dwight Yoakum. Malone's album called F1trillion was pleasant enough, but it didn't have a country song with the rhythmic groove that Yoakum has written for a duet on Dwight's new album, Brighter Days. It's a very adroit song with a very unwieldy title. I don't know how to say goodbye Bang bang boom boom and when Malone's raspy razor of a voice cuts across Yoakum's buttery croon, it achieves a different kind of country harmony.
- [42:10]
Martin Short
I'd have to lie it is to say Cause I don't know how we lost our way Bang bang boom boom there's nothing left here now but sadness Bang bang boom Home and emptiness of all that's gone Bang bang boom boom no sounds will of just sorrow, madness and bang bang boom boom is how a broken heartbeat song come on.
- [43:02]
Steve Martin
Joakim's Brighter Days, his first album of new material in almost a decade, is a wonderful compendium of classic country styles. Another performer bringing a fresh gloss to old sounds is Shauna Thompson on her new album Lean On Neon. Thompson is best known as half of the country duo Act Thompson Square, along with her husband Kiefer. Their music tends toward slick country pop, but Lean on Neon, her solo debut, takes a bracing plunge into the sort of honky tonk music that was popular before she was born. On the title song, she drowns her sorrows beneath the neon glow of a bar with a different singing partner, the veteran songwriter Jim Lauderdale and Shawna Thompson's Misery Is Our Pleasure.
- [43:50]
Tonya Mosley
A whiskey glass a smoke filled room.
- [43:56]
Martin Short
Strangers that were hurting too Misery loves company I found a little joint where you've never been with great almighty hard to see where good girl goes to drown an old men glory.
- [44:29]
Tonya Mosley
I used.
- [44:30]
Martin Short
To lean on me home When I got down in home I used to hold a cold wine those nights when I had no one When a jukebox is your only friend Back water drops in a heart exp you want to know how I moved on I used to lean on neon.
- [45:16]
Steve Martin
If Shauna T wants to dive more deeply into country music, Maren Morris is at a stage in her career where she wants to sort of skate along the surface of it and spin off in a different direction. Morris is a big star who recently has expressed dissatisfaction, becoming vocal about what she terms toxic elements in the Nashville establishment. She has swaddled her angry disenchantment in an irresistible new rhythm for a song called People Still Show Up.
- [45:45]
Selena Gomez
Heroes might disappoint you not everyone's gonna.
- [45:50]
Martin Short
Join you don't let the pain destroy.
- [45:53]
Selena Gomez
You Just go where the arrow points you free flow till you feel that rush when people still shine yeah they're gonna try say you really cross the line you should have shut your mouth and smoke Cause now you're falling When I said too much but it was just enough Cause people still show up.
- [46:20]
Steve Martin
The lyric of people still show up carries the implication that while she may have been advised not to court controversy with her complaints, it won't affect her career. As long as you got it, people still show up to buy her music to come to her concerts. Unlike Dwight Yocum and Shawna Thompson, Morris isn't reaching out to hardcore country fans. She's making her appeal to folks outside the genre. I hope that works out for her.
- [46:47]
Tonya Mosley
Ken Tucker reviewed new music by Dwight Yoakum, Baren Morris and Shawna Thompson.
- [47:06]
Steve Martin
All.
- [47:07]
Martin Short
Spinning your wheels doesn't mean you're going to get to drive. You can muscle up short out spreading road but that don't mean you got any place to go Better key that sweet thing but if you want to think it is but a golden dream cuz you ain't the first and damn sure won't be the last I hold a pig slip title with her high heel on the gas she's got a wide open heart and a up the road she took my old one out completely From a red flag stop to a red up rolling star she's all mind in love with the W.
- [48:20]
Tonya Mosley
Tomorrow on Fresh Air, Trump versus The Media. He's called the media enemies of the people and threatened retribution, including jailing reporters, investigating NBC for Treason and suggesting CBS's broadcast license be taken away. We'll talk with David Rimnick, editor of the New Yorker, and Marty Barron, former editor of the Washington Post. I hope you'll join us to keep up with what's on the show and get highlights of our interviews. Follow us on InstagramPresHair. Fresh Air's executive producer is Danny Miller. Our senior producer today is Teresa Madden. Our technical director is Audrey Bentham. Our engineer is Adam Staniszewski. Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Phyllis Myers, Annemarie Baldonado, Sam Brigger, Lauren Krenzel, Monique Nazareth, Thea Chaloner, Susan Yakundi and Anna Bauman. Our digital media producers are Molly CV Nesper and Sabrina Siewert. Roberta Shorak directs the show with Terry Gross. I'm Tanya Moseley.
- [49:28]
Ken Tucker
This message comes from Capital One. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capital1.combank for details. Capital1NA member FDIC the ocean floor is abundant with minerals needed to power electric cars and other green technologies, but mining those minerals may harm coastal communities.
- [49:54]
Tonya Mosley
These metals that are going to be dig out of our ocean will not benefit anyone from it.
- [49:59]
Ken Tucker
On the Sunday Story from Up First, a look at the opportunity and dangers of mining the ocean floor. Listen now on the up first podcast from npr.
- [50:09]
Tonya Mosley
On the Embedded Podcast Every Marine takes an oath to protect the Constitution against.
- [50:14]
Selena Gomez
All enemies, foreign and domestic.
- [50:17]
Tonya Mosley
This is the story of a Marine in the Capitol on January 6th. Did he break his oath? And what does that mean for all of us? Listen to a good Guy on the Embedded Podcast from npr. Both episodes available now.