A new musical documentary celebrating Idaho’s history, culture, and people is set to air on Idaho Public Television next week, offering viewers a blend of original songs and storytelling rooted in the state’s diverse heritage.
Idaho in Song, Volume 2 is part of Idaho Public TV’s local history series Idaho Experience and premieres Thursday, July 2, at 8:30 p.m. A second airing follows Sunday, July 5, at 7:30 p.m. The program will also be available for streaming beginning July 2 on the PBS app and at video.idahoptv.org.
Songs Rooted in Idaho History
The program features a range of performances tied directly to Idaho’s past and its communities. Musician Beth Pederson performs a song titled “Idaho,” inspired by longstanding misconceptions about how the state got its name. Historian Keith Petersen adds context by discussing 19th-century lore surrounding the name’s origin, including claims involving cultural appropriation that shaped early Idaho identity debates.
Nakia Williamson-Cloud, a Nez Perce native, contributes a song honoring chiefs of his tribe, grounding the program in the deep Indigenous roots of the region.
One of the program’s more personal segments involves legendary folk singer Judy Collins, who speaks with Belinda Bowler about her song “Prairie Dream.” The piece was inspired by Collins’ father, Chuck Collins, who grew up in Lapwai, Idaho. The song pays tribute to the lives and legacy of Native Americans and honors Jackson Sundown, a celebrated Nez Perce rodeo champion. Collins’ father and Holden Bowler were fraternity brothers at Phi Gamma Delta and performed together as students at the University of Idaho — a connection that ties the song directly to Idaho’s academic and cultural history.
Rounding out the lineup, Gary Eller and Friends perform an Idaho original written by Ione Love Thielke of Cascade, Idaho, adding a contribution from the state’s mountain communities to the musical tapestry.
A Celebration of Cultural Heritage
Producer and director Andy Lawless described the project as “a multicultural collage of the human spirit woven together through music that celebrates the heart of our cultural heritage.”
The program reflects a broad sweep of Idaho experience — from the Nez Perce homelands of the north to the small towns and university halls that shaped generations of Idahoans. Rather than focusing on a single era or community, Idaho in Song, Volume 2 draws together musicians, historians, and cultural voices to paint a collective portrait of the state through original composition and performance.
What Comes Next
Viewers who miss the July 2 premiere or the July 5 encore can access the full program on the PBS app and through Idaho Public Television’s streaming portal at video.idahoptv.org starting July 2. Idaho Public Television has not announced whether additional volumes in the Idaho in Song series are planned, but the continued production of the Idaho Experience series suggests ongoing commitment to locally produced history programming.