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The story of a city reborn

CNN Original Series - New Orleans: Soul of a City

TONIGHT 9P ET/PT

Twenty years after Katrina, New Orleans remains a city marked by its resilience, culture and unshakeable spirit. CNN's new Original Series New Orleans: Soul of a City — and its premiere episode Rebirth of a Superdome — takes viewers inside the ongoing story of a community that continues to rebuild itself against all odds. In a special Q&A with Eric Johnson, Executive Producer of CNN Original Series, we uncover key facts about the series and the voices that keep New Orleans' soul alive two decades after one of the most devastating natural disasters in US History.

What makes New Orleans: Soul of a City different from other documentaries or specials viewers may have seen about Katrina or the city itself?

Many programs about New Orleans focus squarely on the devastation of Katrina, especially with the 20th anniversary upon us. Soul of a City tells a much larger story. We wanted to show how sports, food, music, and celebration aren't just surface traditions; they're the ways the city has survived everything from hurricanes to systemic inequities. It's not just a history lesson or a news recap—it's a cultural portrait told by the people who lived it.

Whether they've been to New Orleans many times or have never visited, what do you hope audiences will take away from this series?

We hope viewers see New Orleans as more than a backdrop for Mardi Gras or a headline about Katrina. The city represents a larger story of American culture, one where resilience looks like joy—where music, food, and parades are forms of survival. Whether you've walked through the French Quarter a hundred times or only know the city through the news, we want you to come away with a deeper sense of how unique—and how deeply American—New Orleans really is.

The show blends history, culture, and personal storytelling. How do you think that mix will resonate with CNN audiences?

CNN audiences expect strong journalism, but they also want the larger context behind the headlines. By weaving history, culture, and personal voices together, we're able to show the stakes of the city's story on a human level. It's one thing to say "Katrina changed New Orleans"—it's another to hear a chef, a musician, or a Mardi Gras leader explain how that change shaped their own lives and traditions. That mix of rigor and intimacy is what makes the series feel fresh.

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