Samara Joy Makes ‘Austin City Limits’ Debut: Watch This Preview

Samara Joy will be adding another checkmark to her growing list of milestones this weekend when she makes her debut on Austin City Limits. The 2025 NAACP Image Award winner and five-time Grammy-winning artist will take her bow on PBS stations nationwide tomorrow, Nov. 1 (7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET).

“Against all odds and all genres, Samara is that rare jazz singer who won a Grammy for best new artist,” ACL executive producer Terry Lickona tells Billboard. “Hers is a voice from the past, but also the future … a voice that comes along once in a lifetime.”

Backed by her touring band, Joy performs songs from her latest studio album Portrait as well as her breakthrough album Linger Awhile. The set list also includes a new arrangement of jazz legend Betty Carter’s “Beware My Heart.” Watch this exclusive preview of Joy’s riveting performance of the Portrait track “You Stepped Out of a Dream” below.

“Austin City Limits has an amazing history of celebrating artists who bring their whole hearts to the stage,” says Joy, “and I’m so thrilled to be joining that family. Making my debut with songs from Portrait and Linger Awhile is incredibly special to me — I can’t wait to share this moment with everyone watching.”

The 25-year-old Bronx native, who made her sold-out Carnegie Hall debut this year, is also in the midst of a national tour that will continue into 2026. Upcoming stops include Philadelphia (Nov. 11), Washington, D.C. (Nov. 12), Boston (Dec. 10) and Miami (Feb. 12).

Following the initial broadcast of Joy’s Austin City Limits debut (local listings here), the full episode will be available to stream online via the PBS website.