This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, the happiest of birthday wishes to Dolly Parton who turns 80 on Monday.

Looking ahead to album releases coming in the first few months of 2026, including Robyn, Iron & Wine and Lucinda Williams.

Books always make great gifts – and music books are especially good, since it’s easier to guess someone’s taste in music than in novels. The Talking Heads deserve an ambitious biography and this is it ...