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  • Two men seated on stage during a conversation or panel event. The man on the left, bald with a beard and wearing glasses and a dark suit, gestures with both hands while holding a folder. The man on the right, wearing a white jacket, beige pants, a white beanie, and red-tinted glasses, gives a thumbs-up with a relaxed expression. A small table with flowers, water glasses, and an award sits between them. The background is dark, focusing attention on the speakers.

2025 McNair Honoree: Michael Stipe

The Institute for Southern Studies welcomed the 2025 McNair Honoree, Michael Stipe, former lead singer of R.E.M., for this year’s McNair Conversation on the American South.

Stipe led R.E.M. for 31 years, selling more than 100 million records and touring the globe. Over the past decade, he transitioned to cross-medium work in video, soundscape, sculpture, and photographic and digital imagery. He published four photography books through Damiani (Bologna, Italy) and held his first institutional exhibition at ICA Milan in December 2023. At the time of the event, he was completing his first solo album, scheduled for release in 2025.

The 2025 McNair Conversation was recorded live and will be aired at a later date on the Take on the South podcast. A video of the event and a gallery of images from the evening will also be available on Flickr.

The event was free and open to the public, with check-in beginning at 5:00 p.m. and the program starting promptly at 6:00 p.m.

The 2025 McNair Conversation was recorded live and will be aired at a later date on the Take on the South podcast. A video of the event and a gallery of images from the evening will also be available on Flickr.

 

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