Salt Lick Unveils Final Sessions for Songs of U.S. Summer Series Featuring Grace Potter & Nia Ashleigh

WATCH HERE

The Music and Conversation Series Around America 250 Wraps This Week; Previous Sessions Featured Durand Bernarr, Raheem DeVaughn, Amy Grant, Mickey Guyton, Samara Joy, Brittney Spencer and More

Upcoming Songs of U.S. Panel at AMERICANAFEST 2026 to Feature Swamp Dogg, Raye Zaragoza, Farayi, and Salt Lick's Roger Brown & Nicole Izzo Mlynczak

August 31, 2026 - Salt Lick Sessions' Songs of U.S. music and conversation series concludes this week with brand new performances from Grace Potter and Nia Ashleigh. Throughout the summer, artists reflected on the evolution of the American songbook around the nation's 250th anniversary, coming together to reinterpret songs that have shaped America's cultural identity. Today, pop artist Nia Ashleigh offers a soulful rendition of P!nk's iconic "Glitter in the Air," accompanied by her interview about the importance of human vulnerability and shared experience. Tomorrow on September 1, Grace Potter closes out the series with her performance of her original song "Main Street USA" from her new album Trespasser.

Over the past several weeks, Songs of U.S. has united musicians from across genres to explore what belongs in the modern American songbook through performance and conversation. Watch Salt Lick Incubator's founder Roger Brown discuss the series on Boston Public Radio , and watch Salt Lick Incubator's president Liza Levy discuss the series and America's musical legacy in her interview on MS Now's Morning Joe .

Nia Ashleigh selected P!nk's "Glitter in the Air" as deserving to be added tothe American songbook because of its heartfelt reflection of the human experience. She underscores the lyric "Have you ever waited for the phone to ring?" in her interview , pointing to how the song speaks to what living is all about: vulnerability, longing, and risk-taking. Through her music, Ashleigh has cultivated a community of over 1.2M followers, receiving nods for her emotional vocal delivery from artists including Lady Gaga, SZA, Sara Bareilles, H.E.R, and more.

Watch Nia Ashleigh's cover of P!nk's "Glitter in the Air" HERE .

Watch Nia Ashleigh's Songs of U.S. interview HERE .

Earlier this summer, Nia Ashleigh joined LÉA THE LEOXand Jordyn Simone for a Songs of U.S. cover of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," which you can watch HERE alongside their interview where they reflect on the importance of change, hope through sharing diverse perspectives, and finding beauty and meaning in reflecting on the past. Previously, Grace Potter performed Woody Guthrie's iconic " This Land Is Your Land " and Gnarls Barkley's memorable hit " Crazy, " pairing them to illuminate the current state of America.

You can watch all of Songs of U.S. sessions via Salt Lick Sessions' YouTube channel and social platforms, featuring the artists below. Across the series, artists reinterpreted works by writers including Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Beyoncé, Bill Withers, Roberta Flack and John Denver.

Salt Lick announced their AMERICANAFEST 2026 Songs of U.S. panel set for September 16 in Nashville, featuring series participants Swamp Dogg , Raye Zaragoza , and Farayi . The session will tackle the responsibility that comes with reach: How do you use visibility internationally to navigate a divided cultural moment, and make a lyric into a movement?

The panel, starting at 2 PM at Embassy Suites (Meadow A&B), will be moderated by Salt Lick Incubator's founder Roger Brown and Salt Lick Incubator's Director of Programming and Media, Nicole Izzo Mlynczak. Reflecting on how America's musical identity continues to be written in real time, panelists will share what they've learned about leading with values, uniting diverse audiences, choosing their moments and why the work starts with the song and extends far beyond any one performance.

Variety noted that Songs of U.S. arrives amid renewed conversations about patriotism and American identity, describing the project as offering "a more thoughtful and perhaps meaningfully patriotic approach" to celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. You can read more about the series in Variety HERE .

About Salt Lick Sessions

Salt Lick Incubator's signature series, Salt Lick Sessions, is known for its artist-first approach to compensation, rights, and creative collaboration. The series takes viewers on a nationwide discovery tour, featuring more than 50 musicians each year through intimate video portraits that invite viewers directly into the artist's realm. Past performers include Jon Batiste, Big Freedia, Sheryl Crow, Lalah Hathaway, Mickey Guyton, Madison Cunningham, Tank and the Bangas, Dawes, and many more.

About Salt Lick Incubator

Salt Lick Incubator is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting innovative musicians at critical stages of their careers. Founded by Roger Brown, former president of Berklee College of Music and Liza Levy, the organization provides grants, mentorship, creative development and media platforms for artists building sustainable careers. Its signature series, Salt Lick Sessions, is known for its artist-first approach.

For more information, please contact [email protected] .