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VOA Hosts Rare Appearance by Iranian Entertainer Googoosh

Feb 9, 2026 February 9, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Googoosh, a famous Iranian singer, will give her first exclusive interview since leaving Iran on VOA's Roundtable with You on October 3, 2003. This event is significant as it marks her return to the public eye after years of silence due to the ban on her music in Iran following the 1979 revolution.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Googoosh's interview represents a significant moment for cultural expression among Iranians and highlights the impact of diaspora media.

👥 Key Players

Googoosh MENTIONED
Iranian singer and cultural icon
"Googoosh is a significant figure in Iranian music and culture, representing the voice of many Iranians who have experienced censorship and repression."
Voice of America (VOA) MENTIONED
U.S. government-funded international broadcaster
"VOA serves as a platform for free expression and provides news and cultural programming to audiences in Iran and beyond, often countering state-controlled media."
Ahmad Baharloo MENTIONED
Host and executive producer of Roundtable with You
"He facilitates the dialogue between Googoosh and her fans, amplifying her voice in the diaspora and within Iran."

📰 What Happened

Googoosh is set to give her first exclusive interview since leaving Iran on VOA's Roundtable with You, marking a significant return to the public eye after years of silence due to a ban on her music.

  • Googoosh's music was banned in Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
  • She has not granted interviews since leaving Iran in 2000, making this a rare opportunity for her fans.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This interview symbolizes a challenge to the Iranian regime's censorship and provides hope for cultural expression among Iranians.
🌍 Regional: It highlights the cultural divide in the region, where artists often face repression while gaining popularity abroad.
🌐 International: The event underscores the role of international media in promoting free speech and cultural exchange, particularly in authoritarian contexts.

📚 Background

Googoosh is a legendary figure in Iranian music, whose career was severely impacted by the Islamic revolution, reflecting broader themes of censorship and cultural identity in Iran.

Censorship in Iran The role of diaspora communities in preserving culture
📡 Source: NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
VOA is a reputable source, providing balanced coverage of events, though it is funded by the U.S. government, which may influence its framing.

Washington, D.C., Oct. 1, 2003 - Googoosh, a beloved singer whose songs have been embraced by generations of Iranians, is scheduled to give the Voice of America (VOA) her first exclusive interview since leaving Iran three years ago. On Friday, Oct. 3, she will appear on VOA's Persian-language television/radio program Roundtable with You. After the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, Googoosh's music was banned inside the country and she was forbidden from performing. For more than 20 years, she made no new recordings or stage appearances. In 2000, after she was allowed to leave Iran, she embarked on a world tour where she drew sellout audiences in cities including Toronto, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Her music outsells that of any other Iranian artist. "We're honored that Googoosh has chosen the Voice of America to broadcast this rare interview since leaving Iran," said VOA Director David S. Jackson. "We've gotten hundreds of emails from her fans who are looking forward to the opportunity to call in and speak with her." Since leaving Iran, Googoosh has not granted any interviews except for a press conference in Toronto a few days before her first concert. In her Oct. 3 appearance on VOA, Googoosh will discuss her life and career with Ahmad Baharloo, the host and executive producer of Roundtable with You. News of the Googoosh interview has generated tributes and photos from Googoosh fans around the world. Many have been posted on the VOA Persian website www.VOAnews.com/persian. The show's call-in format will give her fans the opportunity to interact with her directly. VOA also plans to record part of Googoosh's live concert in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 4 for future broadcast. Roundtable with You, a 90-minute call-in show, airs Fridays at 1800 UTC (10:30 p.m. in Iran). In addition, VOA reaches millions of people daily with other Persian-language television programs, including VOA's nightly newscast News and Views, and a youth-oriented magazine program Next Chapter, as well as short-wave radio broadcasts. Programs are also available in audio and video at www.VOAnews.com/persian. VOA went on the air in 1942 and today broadcasts more than 1,000 hours a week of news, information, educational, and cultural programming to a worldwide audience of 94 million people. Programs are produced in Persian and 54 other languages. VOA is funded by the U.S. government.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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