Salt Lick Incubator Announces Songs of U.S.

(L-R) Mickey Guyton, Tiny Habits, Grace Potter, Amy Grant

Photo Credits: Kaitlin Mendoza, Sarah Hyun, Lexi Matuson, Bella Sgarlata

June 2, 2026 - Salt Lick Incubator , a nonprofit artist support organization, has announced Songs of U.S., a new performance and conversation series bringing together artists from across the American musical landscape to reinterpret songs that have shaped the country's cultural identity - and to ask what belongs in the American songbook today.

The series pairs exclusive live performances with artist conversations exploring identity, protest, belonging, history and the evolving story of America through music. Across each artist rollout, participating musicians perform a traditional American song alongside a contemporary work they believe deserves within its evolving future.

The series will feature performances and conversations from artists including Amy Grant, Grace Potter, Old Crow Medicine Show, Linda Perry, Mickey Guyton, Samara Joy, Corook, Tiny Habits, Trousdale,Chance Emerson and Raye Zaragoza, among others to be announced.

You can watch the official trailer HERE .

The series launches on June 8 featuring Amy Grant, premiering on Salt Lick Sessions' YouTube channel and social platforms at 3pm ET/12pm PT. New artist releases and content will roll out throughout the summer, including a special Fourth of July week rollout featuring Mickey Guyton.

Across the series, artists reinterpret works by writers including Woody Guthrie, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan,Beyoncé, Bill Withers, Roberta Flack and John Denver - with performances ranging from Grace Potter's take on "This Land Is Your Land" and Corook's rendition of "Mississippi Goddam" to Mickey Guyton revisiting "Take Me Home, Country Roads," Tiny Habits reimagining "Blowin' in the Wind," Joy Oladokun performing "Ain't No Sunshine," and Brittney Spencer interpreting "Killing Me Softly With His Song."

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Songs of U.S. approaches the moment as an opportunity for reflection, conversation and creative reinterpretation. Drawing from folk, jazz, Americana, country, soul and pop traditions, the series revisits iconic works while also spotlighting voices and perspectives historically excluded from traditional definitions of the canon.

"Music is one of our country's most profound contributions to world culture. So as we close the chapter on the last 250 years of American history in this period of enormous discord and debate about who we are are want to be, we asked musicians from all walks of life to reinterpret a song from the canon of great American music," said Roger Brown, founder of Salt Lick Incubator and former president of Berklee College of Music.

Each performance and conversation was filmed exclusively for the series at locations across the country. Together, the releases form an ongoing musical conversation about memory, reinvention, tradition and cultural exchange - exploring how artists across generations continue to shape and redefine American music in real time.

"American music has always told the truth about who we are - the beauty, the heartbreak, the hope, the contradictions," says Amy Grant. "I loved being part of a project that makes room for all of that. These songs carry history, but they also keep evolving as each new voice brings their own experience and humanity to them."

"If you look at what America is, there is no defined race," says Mickey Guyton in her forthcoming session. "It's a melting pot of so many people from all over the world, and that's what America is - and I think that the music reflects that. We embrace so many types of music and cultures."

Founded by Brown and Liza Levy, Salt Lick Incubator is a nonprofit organization platforming innovative musicians through grants, community, creative development, and media platforms. Its Artist Advisory Board includes Jon Batiste, Harvey Mason Jr., T Bone Burnett, Patrice Rushen, Alison Brown, Susan Tedeschi and Charlie Puth, among others.

Songs of U.S. content will premiere throughout the summer via Salt Lick Sessions' YouTube and social channels.