After years of working to preserve the place where the iconic singer discovered music, a coalition of organizations has raised enough money to restore the home.

Meshell Ndegeocello and Somi discuss the enduring importance of Simone’s 1969 tribute to Black youth for NPR’s American Anthem series.

The conservation organization deemed the house a “National Treasure.” Now it’s working with a group of artists dedicated to protecting it.

Simone features in a class dominated by rock bands, while Tharpe will posthumously receive the Award for Early Influence.

The influential Black singer-songwriters are part of a list of nominees that spans generations.

Rashid Johnson: “My feeling when I learned that this house existed was just an incredible urgency to make sure it didn’t go away.”

Rebecca Ferguson wants to sing “Strange Fruit,” which she described as “a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world.”

The playlist, curated for day and night, features artists as varied as Jidenna, Esperanza Spalding and Billie Holiday. 

The actress claps back at critics who felt she was the wrong actress to portray Nina Simone.

The much-criticized actress also spilled what she learned from making the film.

“But there is something deeply shameful—and hurtful—in the fact that even today a young Nina Simone would have a hard time being cast in her own biopic. In this sense, the creation of ‘Nina’ is not a neutral act. It is part of the problem.”

Much of the backlash has been directed at star Zoe Saldana, rather than the filmmakers.

Yup.

The disaster-plagued “Nina” will finally arrive in theaters on April 22. Will you watch?

No love for Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan or anybody from the “Straight Outta Compton” cast? 

Nina Simone: “It’s a good time for Black people to be alive. It’s a lot of hell and a lot of violence. But I feel more alive now than I ever have in my life.”

omg

Miss Simone was African royalty and like royalty, she regularly dropped gems on us. 

Listen to evocative, lush versions of “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair,” ”My Baby Just Cares for Me,” and “Baltimore.”