MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Two-time Grammy Award winner and Sugarland co-founder Kristian Bush and his brother, acclaimed musician, composer and producer Brandon Bush, will visit Middle Tennessee State University for an engaging conversation about their careers and experiences in the music industry.

The Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, in partnership with the Tom T. Hall Writers Series, will present the moderated event from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in the BAS State Farm Room (S102). It is free and open to the public.

Off-campus visitors should obtain a temporary parking permit online by visiting https://parking.mtsu.edu/visit/ or by visiting the Parking and Transportation Services Office at 205 City View Drive. Visitor permits are $4 per day. A campus parking map can be found: bit.ly/2026parkingmap.

The conversation will be moderated by Cindy Watts, an MTSU recording industry alumna and longtime entertainment writer. She has covered the Nashville music industry for two decades and has interviewed and written about some of the biggest names in country music.

As brothers and longtime collaborators, Kristian and Brandon have built careers spanning country, rock, pop, songwriting, production, touring, recording and musical theater. Their conversation will offer students and community members an inside look at the many paths a career in the music industry can take.

Kristian is a two-time Grammy winner and multiplatinum-selling recording artist, songwriter and producer. As one half of Sugarland, which he co-founded with Jennifer Nettles, he has earned numerous honors from the Recording Academy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music. The duo is known for hits including “Stay,” “Baby Girl,” and “Stuck Like Glue.”

Beyond Sugarland, Kristian is the co-founder of the folk-rock duo Billy Pilgrim and a member of the improvisational rock band Dark Water, which he formed with his brother Brandon and musician Benji Shanks. He also has pursued a solo career and works extensively as a songwriter and producer. In recent years, he has gained recognition for his work with country artist Megan Moroney, whom he produces, as well as Runaway June and other artists.

Brandon has performed on hundreds of recordings, including Grammy-winning and nominated releases by artists such as John Mayer, Sugarland, Little Big Town and Shawn Mullins. A former member of the rock band Train, he has toured internationally and is known for his work as a keyboardist, composer, producer and musical director.

His work extends beyond recording and touring into musical theater. Brandon has composed and music directed productions including “Approval Junkie” and “Shakespeare in Love,” as well as the world-premiere musicals “Troubadour” and “Darlin’ Cory” at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. He has also created original music for television networks and scored podcasts. He currently tours as the keyboardist for Sugarland and serves as music director for his brother, Kristian, while managing the Atlanta-based music collective Songs of the Architect.

Together, the Bush brothers have collaborated on projects including Dark Water and Cabin Chill, while also working behind the scenes on some of today’s contemporary country music. Their shared experience offers a unique perspective on the intersection of performance, songwriting, recording, production and creative collaboration.

About the Tom T. Hall Writers Series

The Tom T. Hall Writers Series celebrates songwriters, authors, poets and screenwriters and offers students, faculty, staff and the public a chance to learn more about the creative process as well as the business end of success.

For more information about the event, contact the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University at [email protected].

— Stacey Tadlock ([email protected])