Article Contributed by Shore Fire Media
Published on 2026-06-15
Photo Credit: Lexi Matuson
Grace Potter is the latest spotlighted artist in Salt Lick Sessions' new Songs of U.S. series, offering a moving cover of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” and an in-depth interview about how music tells the evolving story of America.
Potter is one of the first few artists featured in Songs of U.S., a new performance and conversation series that brings together musicians from across genres to reinterpret songs that have shaped the country's cultural identity while exploring what belongs in the American songbook today.
Today, Salt Lick Sessions premiered Potter’s performance of “This Land Is Your Land” in addition to an interview about the modern state of America and why she believes today's landscape isn't all that different from 100 years ago. Tomorrow (June 16), her raw performance of Gnarls Barkley’s memorable hit “Crazy” will go live. Although the songs debuted more than 60 years apart, Potter uniquely paired them together as tracks that illuminate the current state of America.
In her cover of “This Land Is Your Land,” Potter performs the often-forgotten verse from the song, which is her favorite verse and also serves as inspiration for her new album Trespasser, arriving August 21 via Thirty Tigers. “As I went walking I saw a sign there / And on the sign it said ‘No Trespassing’ / But on the other side it didn't say nothing / That side was made for you and me,” sings Potter.
Watch Grace Potter’s “This Land Is Your Land” performance HERE.
Watch Grace Potter’s Songs of U.S. interview HERE.
The new series debuted Monday with Amy Grant’s reimagination of James Taylor's beloved classic “Carolina in My Mind.” Watch Grant’s performance HERE and accompanying interview HERE.
Forthcoming sessions featuring Old Crow Medicine Show, Mickey Guyton, Samara Joy, Tiny Habits, Brittney Spencer, Trousdale, Joy Oladokun, Corook, Raye Zaragoza and more will roll out throughout the summer via Salt Lick Sessions' YouTube channel and social platforms. A session with Corook will begin rolling out this week on June 17.
Across the series, artists reinterpret works by writers including Woody Guthrie, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Beyoncé, Bill Withers, Roberta Flack and John Denver. Featured performances include Amy Grant's take on "Carolina in My Mind," Corook's rendition of "Mississippi Goddam," 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."
In announcing the series, 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’s exclusive HERE.
