Celeste Headlee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Celeste Headlee
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Headlee in 2012
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| Born | December 30, 1969 Whittier, California, U.S.
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| Education | Northern Arizona University, B.A. 1995 University of Michigan M.M. 1998 |
| Occupation | Radio journalist, author, public speaker, singer |
| Relatives | William Grant Still and Verna Arvey (maternal grandparents) |
Celeste Headlee (born December 30, 1969) is an American radio journalist, author, and public speaker. She is also a talented singer. For over 20 years, Celeste has worked in public radio. She has hosted shows like "On Second Thought" on Georgia Public Broadcasting and was a co-host for the national morning news program The Takeaway. Before 2009, she worked for NPR's Day to Day and hosted a weekly show in Detroit. Celeste Headlee has also written several books, including We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Celeste Headlee was born on December 30, 1969, in Whittier, California. Her mother, Judith Anne Still, was a writer. Her father, Larry Headlee, was a marine geologist, someone who studies the ocean floor.
Celeste's family has a rich history. Her maternal grandparents were the famous composer William Grant Still and the talented pianist Verna Arvey. William Grant Still was African-American, and Verna Arvey was of Russian Jewish descent.
Celeste went to Northern Arizona University (NAU) for her first degree. Later, she earned a master's degree in vocal performance from the University of Michigan.
A Career in Journalism
Celeste Headlee started her journalism journey in 1999. She worked as an anchor and writer for KNAU, a public radio station in Flagstaff, Arizona. She also worked on air for KVNA.
In 2001, she moved to WDET-FM, Detroit Public Radio. There, she was a reporter and anchor. She also hosted her own weekly show called Front Row Center.
By 2006, Celeste joined National Public Radio (NPR). She worked on developing stories, covering breaking news, and creating longer features. She was the Midwest Correspondent for NPR's Day to Day. Her news reports were heard on many networks, including NPR, Public Radio International, and the Pacifica Network.
From 2009 to 2012, Celeste co-hosted The Takeaway. This was a live national morning news program. It was produced by Public Radio International and WNYC New York.
After The Takeaway, Celeste became a guest host for other NPR shows. She filled in on Tell Me More and Talk of the Nation. Both of these shows are no longer on the air.
In 2014, Celeste launched her own show called On Second Thought. This show was on Georgia Public Broadcasting. It was an hour-long program that focused on news related to Georgia and the Southern United States.
Today, Celeste Headlee is a co-host of Retro Report on PBS. In 2021, she also started substitute co-hosting for NPR and WBUR's "Here and Now."
Journalism Awards and Mentoring
Celeste Headlee has won several awards for her journalism. These include honors from the Michigan AP and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. She also received awards from the Metro Detroit Society of Professional Journalists.
Celeste is dedicated to helping new journalists. She works as a mentor and managing editor for NPR's Next Generation Project. This project helps train young people who want to work in broadcast journalism. In 2011, she was named a Getty Arts Journalism Fellow by USC's Annenberg School of Journalism.
Writing Books
Celeste Headlee is also a successful author. Her 2017 book, We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter, is based on a TEDx talk she gave in 2015. The book teaches people how to have better conversations. It shares research and strategies to help improve communication skills.
Her 2020 book, Do Nothing, talks about how some software makes people feel like they are not productive enough. In this book, Celeste explains why it's important to have leisure time and truly connect with others.
Celeste's 2021 book is called Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism—and How to Do It. This book was well-received. Reviewers praised it for explaining why respect and acceptance are important when talking about race. They also noted that it offers helpful advice on how to fight racism through many short, simple conversations.
Musical Talent
Celeste Headlee is a classically trained soprano, which means she is a singer with a high vocal range. She graduated from the Idyllwild Arts Academy in 1987. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University in 1993. She graduated with honors.
She continued her musical education at the University of Michigan, where she received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance in 1998. She studied with well-known teachers like Freda Herseth and George Shirley.
Celeste has performed in many places, including the National Gallery of Art and the Detroit Institute of Arts. She has also sung with opera companies like the Michigan Opera Theater.
Performing Her Grandfather's Music
Celeste Headlee often performs the music of her grandfather, composer William Grant Still. She has sung his composition "Levee Land" on a CD. She also gives lectures about Still's music at schools and universities. Celeste even edited the second edition of a book about her grandfather, William Grant Still and the Fusion of Cultures in American Music. For this book, she created the first complete list of all his musical works.
Personal Life
Celeste Headlee has two children.
