Top Picks: Dad bloggers in the spotlight, bluegrass female force Della Mae's new album, and more
HBO's new documentary 'Love, Marilyn' examines newly discovered diaries and letters, Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' is remastered, and more top picks.
Love, Marilyn airing on HBO
HBO
Keep on turning
Creedence Clearwater Revival鈥檚 hits are so embedded in American heads and hearts that 鈥淧roud Mary鈥� is practically a national anthem. The song鈥檚 creator, John Fogerty, proves as ageless as his songbook on Wrote a Song for Everyone, an inspired collection of duets with a stellar lineup. Jennifer Hudson delivers a Big Easy-flavored 鈥淧roud Mary,鈥� Fogerty trades sizzling guitar licks with country star Brad Paisley on 鈥淗ot Rod Heart,鈥� and rock icon Bob Seger and Fogerty turn 鈥淲ho鈥檒l Stop the Rain鈥� into a soulful lament. Each familiar CCR hit becomes new again.
Dads who blog
We鈥檝e all seen plenty of mommy bloggers, but how about the dads who write about parenting? has been highlighting a dad blogger every day for the past month leading up to Father鈥檚 Day on June 16. Some of those include Scott Behson, who offers tips on balancing work and family, and Scotty Schrier of 鈥淒ads Who Change Diapers.鈥� Not to be missed: a compilation of fathers singing the theme song to 鈥�The Little Mermaid.鈥�
Band of sisters
A new sensation has been storming the bluegrass stage. , a five-woman ensemble of talented pickers on guitars, fiddle, mandolin, and bass, has managed to both capture the sounds of American musical traditions as well as craft its own spirited and lilting lyrics. The group鈥檚 second album, This World Oft Can Be, will strum its way right into your heart.
Riot of spring
Don鈥檛 miss the newly remastered iconic 1958 recording of Stravinsky鈥檚 ballet 鈥淟e Sacre du Printemps鈥� (鈥�Rite of Spring鈥�) with Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic. has released this legendary recording in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Russian ballet and its riotous score, described by Maestro Bernstein as a 鈥渧olcanic鈥� masterpiece.
Children make a difference
reminds us that children are the best change agents we have in the 鈥淚ndependent Lens鈥� film The Revolutionary Optimists. The documentary follows former lawyer and activist Amlan Ganguly as he helps the children of the worst slums in Calcutta, India, transform their own world. Shot over a period of three years, the film takes us through a landscape of child labor, poverty, and disease, showing how children can make a difference 鈥� from cleaning up trash to delivering medicines. It airs on PBS June 17.
Marilyn鈥檚 inner life
The 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe鈥檚 death has produced a rush of activities around the iconic star. But one of the most intriguing has to be Love, Marilyn airing on June 17. The documentary is a swirl of reenactments of moments in the star鈥檚 life 鈥� the fame and scandals 鈥� based on newly discovered diaries and letters hidden away in Lee Strasberg鈥檚 archives. A parade of actresses speak Norma Jean鈥檚 own words, and the film includes archival footage and dramatic readings of passages by famous writers reflecting on Monroe and her remarkable impact.