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Amanpour & Co.

Why the Govt. Wanted to Silence Billie Holiday

Award-winning director Lee Daniels is best known for films like "The Butler" and the Oscar-winning "Precious." In his latest work he turns his attention to singer Billie Holiday. The film depicts how the jazz legend ended up on the wrong side of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, all because of her song “Strange Fruit,” which the bureau wanted to suppress. Daniels speaks with Michel Martin.

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May 22, 2026
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