You are listening to The Next Best Picture podcast, and this is Daniel Howitt's interview with the Grammy Award-winning star of the documentary film American Symphony, musical artist John Battiste.

Ladies and gentlemen, Grammy nominations were announced.

The most honored artist this year with 11 nominations is Mr. John Battiste right there.

I feel like we're living a life of contrast.

Why, what you mean?

It's just a lot.

I'm always in awe to like her.

Now she deals with hardship.

My first day of chemo, his 11 Grammy nominations were announced.

I won the biggest prize in music.

Come home.

She's back in the hospital.

This is what we're dealing with.

John, thank you so much for taking time to talk to me today.

I'm excited to hear more about the process of shooting American symphony.

So thank you.

Thank you so much for your time.

Yes, indeed.

Thank you.

So I understand the documentary really started as a film chronicling just the writing of the symphony, not so much in your personal life.

But as the events of your personal life started to unfold, did it take much convincing to sort of shift gears and cover both sides of things?

Well, yes, yes. It obviously took a lot of trust. The film obviously follows us in ways and in places that typically there's not a camera. you know, therapy sessions from hospital rooms,

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