

This year, SiriusXM will be reflecting on what makes Martin Luther King Jr. Day such an essential national holiday, particularly in light of the ongoing movements for racial justice across the US. King made fundamental strides in protesting racial discrimination on federal and state levels through activism and civil disobedience, leaving an indelible mark on both future activists and the world at large. In the years since King’s legendary “I Have a Dream” speech and Montgomery bus boycott, his work and words remain as relevant as ever as the fight against racism and discrimination continues.
See how SiriusXM and Pandora are honoring Dr. King’s birthday below (all times in ET).
U2 frontman Bono has been profoundly influenced by Martin Luther King Jr.’s inspiring messages and groundbreaking work, and he even dedicated the songs “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “MLK” to the legendary activist. Starting at 1am ET on January 18, Bono will celebrate MLK Day by reading excerpts of Dr. King’s unforgettable speeches and playing “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “MLK” on U2 X-Radio (Ch. 32).
Throughout an hour-long special, SiriusXM NBA Radio (Ch. 86) will be highlighting Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on athletes everywhere, particularly in the NBA. Host Jason Jackson will speak with former Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach David Fizdale, Hall of Famers Lenny Wilkens and Ray Allen, and two-time WNBA Champion Renee Montgomery about King, civil rights, racial injustice, and more.
All weekend long leading up to the holiday, All Access subscribers can catch the honors on January 16 at 1pm, January 17 at 6pm, and January 18 at 10am.
Listeners can feel Dr. King’s revolutionary soul through a special selection of Civil Rights-themed songs throughout the day, as well as excerpt’s from King’s legendary speeches and best-known addresses on Soul Town (Ch. 49). Don’t miss the meaningful tribute all day long on January 18.
In the spirit of the day, MLB Network Radio (Ch. 89 and Sirius 209) will feature two separate Baseball and Black America roundtable discussions focused on the challenges of 2020 and relevance of Dr. King today. On January 18 at 1pm, Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro League Museum, will host the special, joined by former All-Star free agent Dee Strange-Gordon and Rangers Pitcher Taylor Hearn. Later, at 7pm, former big leaguer Xavier Scruggs will lead a conversation with former All-Star Cubs Outfielder Jason Heyward, Padres Outfielder Tommy Pham, and Marlins Outfielder Lewis Brinson. All Access subscribers can hear both specials at their respective times below.
For All Access subscribers, SiriusXM NFL Radio (Ch. 88) will be paying tribute to King’s lasting legacy with two memorial specials. The channel will be joining forces with Mad Dog Sports Radio (Ch. 82) for Pursuit of the Dream, a show hosted by former NFL players Kirk Morrison and George Wrightster in which they revisit the history of Black NFL players and King’s impact on players across the league. The special will air on January 18 at 6pm on Mad Dog Sports Radio and 7pm on SiriusXM NFL Radio. SiriusXM NFL Radio will also air a new edition of Forward Progress, the series where athletes and other notable voices in sports weigh in on racial justice and reform.
On January 18 at 1pm, Hoda Kotb will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day during a new episode of her TODAY Show Radio (Ch. 108) show. After reflecting on the civil rights leader’s impact and the current state of racial injustice, listeners will also hear Hoda’s “healing hour” with Rabbi Leeder, Bishop Ulmer, Maria Shriver, and Johnetta Bryant. The special will also replay throughout the day and week.
As a special tribute to Dr. King, Pandora has created the MLK: Remembering the Dream Playlist, a musical journey celebrating King’s impact and recognizing his civil rights leadership. The playlist features racial justice anthems by Sam Cooke, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and many more, as well as recordings of Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic speeches and sound bites.
In light of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NBC Sports will be examining how culture, racial justice, and more relevant topics converge in the world of golf during the debut of the new Beyond the Fairway podcast, hosted by Doug Smith and Will Lowery. On January 19, listeners can catch the premiere episode, featuring two-time NBA Champion Ray Allen, Don Cheadle, Larry Fitzgerald, Kyle Lowry, and Cedric the Entertainer, on the SiriusXM app.
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