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PREMIERE: Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies

Austin City Limits showcases Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies as the iconoclast returns for Austin City Limits Anniversary Season 50

Austin City Limits is proud to feature shapeshifter Sturgill Simpson in a highly-anticipated return to our stage for the first time in nearly a decade: presenting as “Johnny Blue Skies,” he brings songs from his recent album Passage Du Desir as well as tried-and-true numbers from the Simpson playbook. The new episode premieres Saturday, February 8 @8pm ET/7pm CT as part of Austin City Limits anniversary Season 50. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast. 2025 continues the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which celebrates its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

It’s fitting that Sturgill Simpson—or is that “Johnny Blue Skies”?—is featured during Austin City Limits’ milestone Season 50; he is a singular artist who exemplifies the freewheeling, eclectic spirit that is in the series DNA. Respected, beloved and fiercely independent, Sturgill Simpson finally returns to ACL after making his series debut in 2015. He delivers a career-spanning set of musical highlights and choice selections from his first album in three years, Passage Du Desir, recorded under his Johnny Blue Skies moniker. 

A distinctly original artist, Simpson has relentlessly pushed against expectations, earning widespread acclaim and countless accolades including a Grammy Award in 2017 for Best Country Album and six Grammy nominations across four genres: country, rock, bluegrass and Americana. 

Simpson takes the ACL stage with a hot band—Laur Joamets (guitar), Miles Miller (drums), Kevin Black (bass) and Robbie Crowell (keys), and opens the captivating hour with a Passage Du Desir highlight, “Jupiter’s Faerie,” a beautiful tribute to a lost friend. The Kentucky native returns to, and expands upon, the metamodern country sounds that made him an outsider Nashville star in the early 2010s with a blistering take on his early career highlight “It Ain’t All Flowers,” driving the number into a psych-rock jam. He performs a trio of songs from 2019’s Sound & Fury, his red Gretsch blazing on the muscular, Southern soul burn “Best Clockmaker on Mars.” 

“Since this is the 50th season and the gentleman that started this show recorded this…we’re gonna play it,” says Simpson before launching into “I’d Have To Be Crazy,” a classic he included on his 2013 debut High Top Mountain. He pays tribute to the outlaw country scene that inspired him, acknowledging his debt to Willie Nelson, and to Austin cosmic cowboy Steve Fromholz, with an impassioned reading of the Fromholz-penned number Nelson made famous in the ‘70s; it’s a perfect showcase for Simpson’s rich, distinctive baritone. Simpson reaches back to his breakout debut for the racing rockabilly of big-finish set-closer “Railroad of Sin” as the fascinating hour reveals a genre-bending artist who’s still exploring and pushing the boundaries of where his music can go. 

Sturgill Simpson setlist:

Jupiter’s Faerie

Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)

It Ain’t All Flowers

Best Clockmaker On Mars

I Don’t Mind

All Said And Done

A Good Look

One For the Road

I’d Have To Be Crazy

Railroad of Sin

Season 50 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):

January 11 Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff

January 18 The Avett Brothers

January 25 Mickey Guyton | Carín León

February 1 Chris Stapleton

February 8 Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies

February 15 ACL Presents: Willie Nelson & Family

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding the Season 50 second half broadcast line-up and episode schedules or follow ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.

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Episode Recap Featured New Broadcast News

Austin City Limits Spotlights Chris Stapleton in New Season 50 Episode

Austin City Limits brings out the big guns for Season 50 with a highly-anticipated hour spotlighting one of music’s finest: Chris Stapleton. The ten-time Grammy-winning powerhouse delivers a scorching set of country-rock classics and gems from his  2025 Grammy-nominated LP Higher. The new episode premieres Saturday, February 1 @8pm ET/7pm CT as part of Austin City Limits anniversary Season 50. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast. 2025 continues the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which celebrates its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is a 10x GRAMMY, 19x CMA and 19x ACM Award-winner; he is the CMA Awards reigning Male Vocalist of the Year for a record-extending eighth consecutive year. In this long-awaited return to ACL since his debut in Season 43, the country hitmaker has become a bonafide superstar and one of the genre’s most celebrated artists. He delivers a career-wide set in an electric performance featuring hits and highlights including numbers from his latest album, Higher, which earned the 2024 Album of the Year honor at the ACM Awards and is nominated for Best Country Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards. In an intimate performance joined by wife Morgane Stapleton on harmony vocals and backed by an ace six-piece band, Stapleton flexes his outlaw soul and blazing guitar licks, powering through songs of desperation and desire including “South Dakota,” “Think I’m In Love With You,” “You Should Probably Leave,” and the current Grammy-nominated song for Best Country Solo Performance, “It Takes a Woman.” Stapleton thrills with knockout vocals on the slowburn gut punch “Cold” from 2020’s chart-topping Starting Over and the can’t-get-enough crowd is on its feet. He pays tribute to a pair of  his influences: “We are in Texas so we should probably play a shuffle,” says Stapleton, “this one’s from one of my dear friends that I miss very much…” before launching into the late Texas music legend Guy Clark’s weed boogie “Worry B Gone;” Stapleton then tips his hat to another hero, Tom Petty, with a rousing rendition of the late rock icon’s “I Should Have Known It.” The hour closes with the fan-favorite “Millionaire,” as Stapleton is joined in close harmony with his partner and collaborator Morgane for a stellar close.

Chris Stapleton on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

“Everybody loves Chris Stapleton!” says ACL executive producer. “He brings attitude, heart and grit to Country music but in a way that appeals to fans of authentic music everywhere.”

Chris Stapleton setlist:

South Dakota

Arkansas

Cold

Worry B Gone

Think I’m In Love With You

It Takes A Woman

Joy Of My Life

I Should Have Known It

Starting Over

You Should Probably Leave

Mountains Of My Mind

Millionaire

Season 50 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):

January 11 Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff

January 18 The Avett Brothers

January 25 Mickey Guyton | Carín León

February 1 Chris Stapleton

February 8 Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies

February 15 ACL Presents: Willie Nelson & Family

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding the Season 50 second half broadcast line-up and episode schedules or follow ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.

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Episode Recap New Broadcast News

Episode Premiere: Austin City Limits Showcases Brittany Howard in Electric Hour

Austin City Limits (ACL) presents an electric hour with one of music’s finest live acts, five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brittany Howard. The powerhouse vocalist and ACL favorite returns for Austin City Limits’ anniversary Season 50 to showcase new numbers from her latest album What Now alongside career highlights. The hourlong episode premieres Saturday, October 26 @8pm ET/7pm CT. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast.

2024 kicks off the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

“Let’s have us a good time,” smiles Howard, taking the stage in a celestial, sparkling caftan. The Nashville-based musician (and frontwoman for four-time Grammy Award-winning Alabama Shakes) brings her singular musicality to a shapeshifting sound encompassing everything from psychedelia and dance music to dream-pop and avant-jazz in a 13-song set, with songs from her powerful second solo LP What Now as the centerpiece. Opening with a trio from the album, the songs are anchored in Howard’s inimitable and infinitely commanding voice—a supreme vessel for channeling raw emotional truth. Howard is backed by her stellar eight-piece band,  amplified by longtime backing vocalists Shanay Johnson and Karita Law. Howard throws it back to her 2019 solo debut Jaime for the radiant Grammy-winning radio hit “Stay High,” as the ecstatic crowd joins in on the soaring chorus. 

Brittany Howard on ACL, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.
Brittany Howard on ACL, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

“Live music is such an important thing, you know,” shares Howard from the stage. “I saw my first live band play when I was eleven years old, and it was from that moment that I decided that this was what I wanted to do. And I studied hard and I worked real hard, taught myself how to play, and I taught myself how to write songs, and now I get to be here with all of ya’ll.”  With that, she dons an acoustic guitar and renders a mesmerizing, stripped-down “Short and Sweet,” before being rejoined by her full band with Howard on explosive guitar for the hard-funk title track “What Now” in a cathartic close.

“When Brittany Howard sets foot on a stage, she doesn’t really need a microphone,” said longtime ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “She owns that stage, and she owns the room. Her voice is the voice of power, and truth. We gave her the full hour, because she deserves it! See and hear for yourself.”

Brittany Howard setlist:

Earth Sign

I Don’t

Patience

Stay High

Red Flags

Samson

Prove It to You

To Be Still

Every Color in Blue

Power to Undo

Short and Sweet

Another Day

What Now

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately):

September 28 Kacey Musgraves

October 5 Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 Brittany Howard

November 2 Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 Wynonna

November 16 Juanes

2024 kicks off the 50th Anniversary of Austin City Limits, which taped its debut pilot episode with Willie Nelson on October 17, 1974; the pioneering series then premiered on PBS in 1975. That now legendary debut became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television. ACL is proud to have Willie Nelson return on the 50th anniversary of the pilot taping to commemorate Austin City Limits’ remarkable half-century milestone with a Texas-sized outdoor concert that took place on October 17, 2024, at Austin’s Long Center. Musical highlights from the performance will air as a special hourlong broadcast of Austin City Limits scheduled for early 2025 as a season highlight of the program’s golden anniversary Season 50.

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming Season 50 tapings, live streams and episode schedules or by following ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.

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Episode Recap New Broadcast News

Episode Premiere: Grammy-Nominated Singer-Songwriters Maggie Rogers & Gracie Abrams

Austin City Limits has all the feels in a heartfelt new installment showcasing two gifted singer-songwriters: Maggie Rogers and Gracie Abrams. Both artists create honest, personal music and prioritize connection with the audience, encouraging listeners to feel all the feelings. In her second appearance on ACL, Grammy-nominated Rogers shines with gems from Don’t Forget Me; she’s followed by 2024 Grammy Best New Artist nominee Abrams making her program debut with standouts from her chart-topping The Secret of Us. The hourlong episode premieres Saturday, October 12 @8pm ET/7pm CT. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast. 2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the revered music de institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Producer/songwriter/performer Maggie Rogers made her Austin City Limits debut in Season 45 with songs from 2019’s Heard It In a Past Life and returns as a must-see live act amid her first arena tour. Rogers takes viewers on a journey of her cinematic songs, featuring highlights from her third LP Don’t Forget Me, a road trip album written from the perspective of someone leaving home for the first time. Accompanied by a six-piece band, Rogers has her foot on the gas for the raw emotion of the opener “So Sick Of Dreaming,” a lovestruck kiss-off with a spoken-word interlude to an ex-partner. “This song is a love song,” smiles Rogers in the intro to her 2019 hit “Love You For A Long Time.” She dances ecstatically across the stage and inspires a genuine connection with her audience, as the adoring Austin crowd sings along passionately. She reaches back to her 2020 sophomore release Surrender for “Anywhere With You,” and closes out the exuberant set awash in good vibes for this year’s big-hearted title track “Don’t Forget Me.”

Los Angeles native Gracie Abrams was handpicked by Taylor Swift to open on select dates of her blockbuster Eras Tour, and rejoins Swift on the final leg of that tour this fall, in addition to playing her own sold-out headlining tour. The 25-year-old Abrams has amassed a devoted fanbase of ecstatic fans who chant her name and sing-along to every word of her emotionally intimate lyrics. In her ACL debut, Abrams performs with her latest album The Secret Of Us as the centerpiece. She opens a captivating set with a trio of songs from the album, including fan-favorite single “Risk,” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” as the stoked crowd screams out every lyric. Abrams revisits the 2020 EP that started her meteoric rise for the tender ballad “Friend.” She wears her heart on her sleeve and engages with fans by waving and mouthing messages mid-song. Abrams has struck a chord with vulnerable tunes that speak of modern love, songs with millions of streams that resonate with a new generation.

“Maggie Rogers and Gracie Abrams are part of a new generation of women songwriters who share their stories in powerful, intimate ways, and these stories come to life in this special hour,” says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “They are both also powerful performers who take command of the stage and their audience. It’s an emotional experience for everyone.”

Maggie Rogers episode setlist:

So Sick Of Dreaming

The Kill

Love You For A Long Time

Anywhere With You

Don’t Forget Me

Gracie Abrams episode setlist:

Risk

Blowing Smoke

I Love You, I’m Sorry

Friend

Let It Happen

Free Now

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Austin’s Own Gary Clark Jr. and Black Pumas On Austin City Limits Season 50

Austin, TX—October 4, 2024—As Austin City Limits (ACL) celebrates its Season 50, the program is proud to spotlight a pair of acclaimed Austin acts for the occasion. Four-time Grammy Award winner Gary Clark Jr. performs highlights from his powerful LP JPEG RAW and eight-time Grammy-nominated Black Pumas sparkle with selections from their Chronicles of a Diamond in a thrilling hour of next-generation rock and soul. The new episode premieres Saturday, October 5 @8pm ET/7pm CT. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast. 2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Ever since Austin City Limits taped its pilot episode in 1974 (featuring the one and only Willie Nelson), a hallmark of the series has always been the strong connection between performer and audience. This week’s installment highlights that relationship as a pair of sensational live acts demonstrate the communal experience with concertgoers and viewers. Austin hometown six-string hero Gary Clark Jr., who made his ACL debut in 2013, has often mentioned how, as a kid, he watched his heroes (like Stevie Ray Vaughan), on old episodes of the series. Clark Jr. now returns for his fourth appearance with selections from his latest studio album, JPEG RAW. The record signals the advent of an expansive sonic era in his musical journey, and finds the revered axeman exploring new sounds and textures from West Africa to the Mississippi Delta, classic ‘70s funk and soul, ‘90s R&B and elements of jazz and hip-hop. Clark Jr. opens the magnetic set with the powerful call to action “Maktub,” singing the urgent lyrics “We gotta move…time for a new revolution,” accompanied by his blazing guitar. The standout “What About The Children,” an album duet with Stevie Wonder, is both a funk stunner as Clark Jr. flexes his falsetto, and a family affair, as he is joined by his three sisters on celestial backing vocals. The epic set-closer “Habits,” a nine-minute opus, is a showcase for his honest, open-hearted songwriting, elevated by a passionate guitar solo for an electrifying close.

Gary Clark Jr. on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.
Black Pumas on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.
Black Pumas on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Black Pumas return to the ACL stage for their second appearance with highlights from their acclaimed sophomore release Chronicles of a Diamond. The psychedelic soul act, led by vocalist Eric Burton and guitarist Adrian Quesada, and an ace six-piece band, are known for their transcendent live shows which Burton refers to as “electric church.” Opening with the 2024 Grammy-nominated “More Than A Love Song,” a blissed-out marvel enhanced by their backing singers sublime vocals, Burton invites the rapt crowd to sing-along on the soaring “We’ll fly together” refrain. Pumas reach back to their star-making 2019 debut for the breakout hit “Colors,” a soulful anthem that spoke to fans across the globe, pairing it with the chorus of the soul classic “You’re All I Need to Get By.” Burton contemplates the romance of rock music while pointing out the perils on the hypnotic “Rock and Roll,” as Quesada’s guitar wails, for a spellbinding close.

“Beyond being the ‘Live Music Capital of the World,’ Austin has long been a launchpad for fresh, new music that has gone on to national acclaim, world stages, and many Grammy awards,” says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Gary took the guitar to new heights with his unique stylings, and Black Pumas fused a myriad of sounds, styles and genres into a powerhouse live show.”

Gary Clark Jr. setlist:

Maktub

This Is Who We Are

What About the Children

Habits

Black Pumas setlist:

More Than A Love Song

Ice Cream (Pay Phone)

Colors/You’re All I Need to Get By

Rock and Roll

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately):

September 28 Kacey Musgraves

October 5 Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 Brittany Howard

November 2 Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 Chris Stapleton

November 16Juanes

2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of Austin City Limits, which taped its debut pilot episode with Willie Nelson on October 17, 1974; the pioneering series then premiered on PBS in 1975. That now legendary debut became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television. ACL is proud to announce that Willie Nelson will return on the 50th anniversary of the pilot taping to commemorate Austin City Limits’ remarkable half-century milestone with a Texas-sized outdoor concert on October 17, 2024, at Austin’s Long Center. The performance will be taped; musical highlights will air as a special hourlong broadcast of Austin City Limits to air in early 2025 as a season highlight of the program’s golden anniversary Season 50.

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming Season 50 tapings, live streams and episode schedules or by following ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.

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Episode Premiere: Kacey Musgraves Leads Off Austin City Limits Season 50

Live music beacon Austin City Limits (ACL) kicks off a celebratory Season 50 with an unforgettable hour from an American original, seven-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves. The celebrated artist is newly nominated for a trio of awards from the Country Music Association for the upcoming CMA Awards (on November 20), including top honors of Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. The season premiere airs on Saturday, September 28th at 7pm CT/8pm ET. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast. 2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Kacey Musgraves on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

“It’s such an honor to be kicking off the 50th Season of ACL,” says Kacey Musgraves from the famed ACL stage. The Golden, Texas native returns for Austin City Limits golden anniversary season in her third series appearance; Musgraves made her ACL debut in 2014 and returned in 2018 for Season 44. The songstress shines in a radiant hour, with a new collection of songs from her latest album Deeper Well as the centerpiece, alongside career highlights and songwriting tales. With an easy rapport and exquisite singing, Musgraves delivers a captivating 13-song set joined by her seven-piece band. She opens with the delicate, soaring “Cardinal,” which pays homage to her late friend and mentor John Prine. Musgraves performs a suite of album highlights including “Deeper Well,” “Sway” and “Too Good To Be True,” weaving soft melodies around sparkling songs in a tender performance.

“ACL! Should we throw it back a little bit?” asks Musgraves before launching into the irresistible “Butterflies” from 2018’s Grammy-winning album Slow Burn. Musgraves performs a moving solo rendition of “Rainbow” with piano accompaniment, inviting the audience to sing-along. She reaches back to her 2013 breakthrough for “Follow Your Arrow,” letting the crowd take over on the final verse. A barefoot Musgraves thrills with lush vocals and harmonies on her fan-favorite anthem “Slow Burn.” “We’re gonna leave each other with good vibes,” smiles the free-spirited artist as she closes with the ACL audience joining in for her set staple “Three Little Birds.”

“Kacey Musgraves represents what Austin City Limits is all about – past, present, and hopefully future,” said longtime executive producer Terry Lickona. “There’s a through line from that very first ACL, from Willie to Kacey 50 years later: groundbreaking artists pushing boundaries, with powerful songs, and powerful performances. She sets the perfect tone for the 50th anniversary!”

Kacey Musgraves on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Episode setlist:

  • Cardinal
  • Deeper Well
  • Sway
  • Too Good To Be True
  • Butterflies
  • Giver-Taker
  • Follow Your Arrow
  • The Architect
  • Heaven Is
  • Rainbow
  • Justified
  • Slow BurnThree Little Birds/Easier Said

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately):

September 28 Kacey Musgraves

October 5 Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 Brittany Howard

November 2 Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 Chris Stapleton

November 16Juanes

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming Season 50 tapings, live streams and episode schedules or by following ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.

Austin City Limits:

A monument to music, Austin City Limits has showcased iconic performances from legends and innovators in every genre of popular song for a remarkable five decades. The series is the flagship of the popular Austin City Limits Music Festival and has earned countless accolades for its quality presentation of live music performances, including a Peabody Award, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame designation and it remains the only TV series awarded the National Medal of Arts.

Austin City Limits is produced by Austin PBS and funding is provided in part by Dell Technologies, the Austin Convention Center Department, Cirrus Logic and AXS Ticketing. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Austin City Limits. Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com.

About Austin PBS:

Since 1962, Austin PBS has been a part of Central Texas, delivering programs that educate, entertain and inspire. As the only locally owned and operated nonprofit public television station in Central Texas, Austin PBS uses its unique position to serve as a bridge to the community and provide essential services to 3 million potential viewers in more than 20 counties across the region.