Chuck Berry's extraordinary life explored in PBS's new special 'In Their Own Words' set to premiere tomorrow, July 27

This television special should be super interesting. As someone who saw and reviewed Chuck Berry several times over the years, I still feel like I have much I need to learn and understand about one of rock and roll's founding fathers and most influential greats...Robert Kinsler

Chuck Berry / Photo credit: Gijsbert Hanekroot/ALAMY

Chuck Berry’s extraordinary life will be explored in an episode of PBS’s new primetime special, IN THEIR OWN WORDS, premiering tomorrow, Tuesday, July 27. IN THEIR OWN WORDS, which kicked off last week with Pope Francis, the Argentian cardinal who made histoty by being the first pope from the Americas, examines the lives and impact of some of the most intriguing figures in recent history. Combining exclusive interviews with archival footage and each subject’s own words to help tell the story, IN THEIR OWN WORDS sheds light on these compelling personalities and examines their continuing influence. 

 

The summertime series will conclude on Sunday, August 8 with “Diana, Princess of Wales,” which tells the story of the beloved woman who defied expectations and used the power of hercelebrity to change lives. 

 

All episodes are scheduled from 8-9 pm EDT (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video app.

 

Three additional specials will premiere in the fall, profiling Jimmy Carter, Elon Musk and Angela Merkel. 

 

Below is more information on the summer specials:

 

“Pope Francis” – Tuesday, July 20

On March 13, 2013, at the age of 76, the Argentinian cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He made history by being the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit priest to be named to the office and the first to take the name Francis. Diving into Pope Francis’s personal story, this episode reveals the experiences and influences that led him from Buenos Aires to the Vatican and the highest office of the Catholic church—and made him one of the most popular and progressive popes of recent times. Featuring interviews with Austen Ivereigh, author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope, NBC’s Anne Thompson, Vatican officials and more.

 

“Chuck Berry” – Tuesday, July 27

Chuck’s Berry’s incredible life story spans more than seven decades, beginning in the clubs and bars of a deeply segregated St. Louis. In 1955, his “Maybellene” rose to #1 on the R&B chart. It then miraculously crossed over, reaching #5 on the top 100 Pop chart, ultimately birthing a renaissance in popular music we now call rock and roll. To his family, Berry was a sensitive poet and devoted family man. To others, he was a demanding and difficult artist, a “diabolical genius” driven by a voracious appetite for money and a deep desire for respect and control. This episodetakes a riveting ride on the Chuck Berry train, exploring the life, the legend, the music and the man. Featured are interviews with his widow, son and grandson, along with colleagues and musicians who idolize him, including Keith Richards, Robert Cray, Slash, Darius Rucker and more.

 

“Diana, Princess of Wales” – Sunday, August 8

This unique exploration of Diana’s life looks back through a contemporary lens that credits her choices, her suffering and her triumphs as the ultimate disrupter for a generation of women across the globe. Through interviews with many who knew her personally, a picture of Diana emerges that reveals what drove her to challenge the restrictions of her personal life—marriage to a man who loved another woman and a royal family that attempted to mold her in its image. When her marriage dissolved, Diana could have stepped off the world stage and created a quiet, private life. Instead, driven by a need to help others, she chose to use her celebrity to change lives. The story of a woman who defied expectations and evolved into one of the most impactful icons of our time, the program features interviews with John Travolta, biographer Andrew Morton, several close friends and more.

 

IN THEIR OWN WORDS will stream simultaneously with broadcast and be available on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video app, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV and Chromecast.

A co-venture of Dalaklis Media and Prospero Media, IN THEIR OWN WORDS is produced by Lower Canada Productions Inc., in association with PBS, documentary Channel, Rive Gauche Television and with the participation of Rogers Cable Network Fund. Executive Producers are Chuck Dalaklis, Martin Katz and Karen Wookey. Bill Margol is executive in charge for PBS. Rive Gauche Television is the international distributor of the series. 

 

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