MSM 90s: Black Hole Sun, John Paul White

10/17/26

By Monica Collier

Muscle Shoals Meets is bold, dear friends. You know it's true. I am forever in awe of the talent, dedication, and passion that goes into a Muscle Shoals Meets event. I dare say this bunch is incapable of backing down from a challenge.

You know what? I'm bold, too, and I'm going to take what I just said a step further: Those fabulous Fiddleworms and friends aren't just bold, they're downright fearless, y'all. No artist or song or decade is too big for our MSM crew to take on and they're sure to give it a little Shoals shake, too. I am so proud to call the Shoals my home. Aren't you?

Hey, so, remember way back in August when our MSM heroes gave us an entire 90s Mixtape Week that culminated with a fantastic Saturday night concert at Renaissance Shoals? Those bold and fearless Fiddleworms and friends rocked and rolled some of the most cherished and iconic songs from a decade that raised a whole bunch of us in more ways than one. Good times.

Then, as the night was winding down, one of our most precious homegrown superstars humbly took the stage and did the impossible. Y'all. I invite you to close your eyes and recall those magical five+ minutes a few months ago when John Paul White transported us back to 1994.

Remember? The MSM 90s version of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" was even more haunting than the original. I still find myself wondering how that's even possible. God as my witness, though, that's how it went down. Did I mention MSM is bold and fearless?

Here's the thing: Whether JPW is performing on the world's most prestigious stages, accepting a Grammy, imparting wisdom to a rising generation of creatives, or simply walking down Seminary, he is music. You feel me? Yes, his voice is a golden gift from God, but his talent runs so deep, y'all. Mark my words: It's JPW's sincere and incredibly profound love for music that makes him a great writer and teacher in addition to being a phenomenal performer.

My dear MSM friends, JPW loves music in a way that keeps him real. For me, JPW's talent and stage presence always render me speechless but more times than not, his performances hit so hard because he feels the song's story.

That night back in August, JPW destroyed me because "Black Hole Sun" was breaking his heart just like he was breaking mine. He's a fan, y'all. It took a bold, fearless, music-loving homegrown Grammy-winning superstar to do our hero justice, friends. JPW honored Chris Cornell that night in a way that can't be faked, phoned-in, replicated or duplicated. That moment was ours, MSM fam. It will never happen again. Let that resonate.

Oh my word, y'all. Corey Jones was on guitar for this one, too, dear friends. He was right there next to JPW living inside "Black Hole Sun" with him. I just love so much that Corey was part of this perfect storm. Talk about a bold, fearless, sincere, music-loving heart, y'all. Having Corey and those fabulous Fiddleworms complementing JPW's voice just like how Kim Thayil and the guys did for Chris Cornell back in the day ... it was so emotionally charged. Powerful.

And, holy smokes at those fabulous Shoals Strings! Carleigh Pickard, Cade Garcia, Christina Volz Stomachin, Kate Francis, Rachel Gregory, and Kate Tayler, who wrote of the arrangements, were perfection. Corey and the Shoals Strings elevated this incredibly emotional song in a way that made it even more powerful than the original.

Whew. I'm tearing up again just thinking about this MSM once-in-a-lifetime special moment. Le sigh.

No one sings like you anymore.

Stay tuned. More to come.

Dig Worms.

Photos by the ridiculously talented Devona Hawkins.