Celebrate Southern identity through the eyes of contemporary creators of literature, music, film and television, including authors Jesmyn Ward, Michael Twitty, Angie Thomas and David Joy; poets Jericho Brown and Natasha Trethewey; songwriters Jason Isbell, Lyle Lovett, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Adia Victoria, Amanda Shires, Thao Nguyen and Justin Moore; musician/songwriter/screenwriter/actor Billy Bob Thornton; songwriter/actor Mary Steenburgen; and screenwriters Qui Nguyen and Michael Waldron.

“Southern Storytellers” was created by filmmaker Craig Renaud and Arkansas PBS CEO Courtney Pledger. Known for his intimate approach with his documentary subjects, Renaud has spent the last two decades telling human-centered, verité stories from around the globe, often in partnership with his late brother, Brent. The partnership between the Renaud brothers and Arkansas PBS began in 2018 with the PBS documentary “State of the Art,” capturing the personal stories of artists at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art who are redefining the aesthetic of contemporary art in America. Renaud has won numerous major awards, including a Peabody and multiple duPont-Columbia Awards.

A diverse team of filmmakers and producers join Renaud Films and Arkansas PBS in the overall effort for “Southern Storytellers” and “Southern Sounds,” including Keith Maitland, Terry Lickona, Juan Arredondo, Jamal Hodge, Stephen Bailey, Nathan Willis, Denise (Godoy) Gregarek, Andy Sarjahani and Héctor Tapia. Bill Gardner is the executive in charge of production for PBS. 

SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS “Episode 1”

Premieres: Tuesday, July 18 at 8 p.m. CT

In the first of a three-part series, Southern creators of literature, music, and film explore deep ties to their native South: Billy Bob Thornton reflects on a life of writing songs and screenplays; Adia Victoria celebrates her music and marriage near Nashville; David Joy laments the disappearance of the Appalachian culture he loves; Jericho Brown reveals the South as essential to his creativity; and Mary Steenburgen remembers her Arkansas childhood in song.
 

SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS “Episode 2”

Premieres: Tuesday, July 25 at 8 p.m. CT 

Six of the South’s most influential creators take us home to the places that define them: Mississippi’s Angie Thomas as she writes to change young lives; Jason Isbell remembers his roots in Muscle Shoals while Amanda Shires invites us home to the Tennessee farm the couple shares; Michael Twitty uncovers his roots in Alabama; Lyle Lovett traces his love of stories back to his childhood; Qui Nguyen reveals the small town that showed him the power of personal stories. 

SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS “Episode 3"

Premieres: Tuesday, August 1 at 8 p.m. CT

In this third and final episode, some of the South’s most compelling and influential contemporary creators take us home to the places that fertilize the stories they tell in books, songs, poems, and on screens large and small: Mississippi author Jesmyn Ward and poet Natasha Trethewey; Georgia screenwriter and series creator Michael Waldron; Arkansas songwriter Justin Moore; songwriter Tarriona “Tank” Ball from New Orleans; and Virginia songwriter Thao Nguyen. 

SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS premieres on WCTE Tuesday, July 18, 25 and August 1.

For exclusive content from storytellers, follow on Instagram @SouthernStorytellersPBS.

Major funding for “Southern Storytellers” was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding was provided by the Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, Inc. and Moses Tucker Partners. In addition to the three-part broadcast series, “Southern Storytellers” includes a six-part series for PBS Digital Studios – “Southern Sounds” – that explores the powerful role of place in the lyrics of Southern songwriters.