Dan Rather wasn’t supposed to be a "music guy." After the high-stakes world of the CBS Evening News and the White House press room, nobody expected the man who stared down Richard Nixon to spend his twilight years sitting on a porch with Gregg Allman or talking songwriting with Jewel. But that’s exactly what happened. The Big Interview with Dan Rather became this weird, beautiful anomaly in the cable landscape—a place where rock gods and Oscar winners dropped their guards because the guy asking the questions had seen literally everything.
It ran for nine seasons on AXS TV, racking up nearly 150 episodes. Honestly, it shouldn't have worked. You have this legendary, somewhat stiff newsman interviewing people like Kid Rock or Ice Cube. Yet, it was the best thing on television for fans who actually wanted to hear an artist speak for more than a three-minute soundbite on a late-night talk show.
What Made The Big Interview with Dan Rather So Unusual?
Most celebrity interviews are just PR junkets. You know the drill. The actor has a movie to sell, the singer has a tour to promote, and everyone stays on script. The Big Interview with Dan Rather threw that script in the trash. Rather used the same "tough but fair" investigative techniques he sharpened in Vietnam and Watergate to ask Carly Simon about her childhood stutter or get Gene Simmons to talk about his mother’s experience in a concentration camp.
It wasn't about the "gotcha" moment. It was about the "tell me more" moment.
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One of the most striking things about the show was the setting. Rather often traveled to the guests. He went to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood. He sat in Sheryl Crow’s Nashville recording studio. He even visited Rush frontman Geddy Lee at home. By pulling these icons out of the sterile studio environment, the conversations felt like two old pros just shooting the breeze.
The Guests Who Actually Opened Up
If you look back at the guest list, it’s basically a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. We’re talking about:
- Robert Plant discussing the weight of the Led Zeppelin legacy.
- Linda Ronstadt being incredibly candid about her Parkinson’s diagnosis shortly after the news broke.
- Quentin Tarantino breaking down the mechanics of his filmmaking.
- Don Rickles showing a rare, vulnerable side just before he passed away.
There was this one episode with Daryl Hall—from Hall & Oates—where Rather, who admits he missed the "rock and roll bandwagon" for most of his life, genuinely tries to understand the soul of Philadelphia music. It’s charming because Rather isn't pretending to be a hip music critic. He’s just a curious guy. That curiosity is infectious. You've probably seen clips of the Sammy Hagar episode or the one with Simon Cowell; they work because Rather treats them with the same gravity he’d give a head of state.
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Why This Show Matters Now
In a world of TikTok clips and 280-character feuds, The Big Interview with Dan Rather feels like a relic from a more thoughtful era. But that’s why it’s still gaining traction on streaming services like Plex and The Roku Channel. People crave depth. They want to know why Aaron Sorkin writes the way he does, or how Merle Haggard transitioned from prison to country music royalty.
Rather's departure from CBS in 2005 was messy. The "Killian documents" controversy almost ended his career. But this show was his second act. It proved that a journalist's greatest tool isn't their teleprompter—it's their ability to listen. When he sat down with R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and Mike Mills, they even discussed the song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" which was inspired by a real-life attack on Rather. It was a full-circle moment that most interviewers could never pull off.
Actionable Ways to Experience the Best of the Series
If you're looking to dive into the archives, don't just click on the first clip you see. To get the most out of the series, follow this roadmap:
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Watch the "Music Legends" arc first.
Episodes with Neil Young, John Fogerty, and Patti LaBelle are masterclasses in career retrospectives. They don't just talk about the hits; they talk about the struggle of staying relevant for 50 years.
Look for the "Full Circle" moments.
Find the interview with Bryan Cranston. It’s one of the best examples of Rather’s ability to connect with a modern superstar through the lens of old-school work ethic.
Check the AXS TV YouTube channel.
While many full episodes require a subscription (Fubo, Philo, or Apple TV), the AXS TV YouTube channel hosts "The Big Interview" shorts that highlight specific, poignant stories—like Dolly Parton talking about her Imagination Library.
Focus on the later seasons.
Season 7 and Season 9 had some of the most polished production values and diverse guests, including Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys.
The series wrapped its original run around 2021, but the "Rather-esque" style of interviewing—patient, inquisitive, and deeply researched—is something you can see echoed in the best long-form podcasts today. Whether you’re a fan of the guest or just a fan of great storytelling, these 150 conversations are a blueprint for how to truly talk to another human being.