It seems like mass shootings are becoming more frequent in America. This time the lives of many innocent families were changed in Music City – in an area loosely referred to as the bible belt.
On Monday (May 27) morning, the community of Nashville, Tenn., was shaken after a woman walked into a private Christian elementary school and opened fire, killing three adults and three children, according to authorities.
Many music artists who either live in or spend countless hours working in Nashville took to social media to share their condolences to the families and victims of the shooting, their political stance on gun control, and to air their frustrations over the constant violence that has been plaguing US schools, where kids of all ages should never feel threatened.
Daigle Postponed Her Album Preview Concert To Lead Prayer Vigil
After learning of the latest tragedy, Lauren Daigle postponed what would have been her album preview concert and kick-off to her The Kaleidoscope Tour. She rescheduled the event for Wednesday (April 5), promising that “all tickets will be honored” for the future show.
In place of the would-be celebration, the Christian singer called on folks to come together as she planned to host a vigil to remember those whose lives were lost in the horrific and senseless tragedy that occurred that morning.
“Today’s shooting is truly heartbreaking for our Nashville community and all of those impacted. I’m going to postpone my performance tonight, and in its place, host a community-wide Prayer Vigil,” Daigle wrote in a statement on her Instagram page. “To everyone who was planning to come out, please continue to come join us as we share in a time of prayer and worship to honor the victims and everyone in need.”
“To those in the local Nashville area, if you need a safe place to come pray, mourn, and be with your community, please join us. The doors are open for all. Same location. Same time. With all my love and support, Lauren Daigle,” she ended the post.
The community-wide prayer vigil took place at 6:30 p.m. CT and ran for 1-hour. No tickets were required for the safe event. Those who gathered for the vigil made their way to Marathon Music Works, where Daigle also treated attendees to a powerful sing-along performance of “How Great Thou Art.”
The Instagram page of Nashville has captured video from the vigil, showing Daigle throwing all of her emotion into the spiritual ballad.
“Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts are with you Nashville. ❤️ Thank you, @lauren_daigle for replacing your performance last night in Nashville with a vigil to honor those lost and their families by bringing our community together,” a caption reads alongside the post. “May we not withhold or withdraw our empathy and love due to political differences, especially in times like these. We are all people who are hurting and people in need of love. All simply connected by our shared humanity.”
New Self-Titled Album Coming Soon
Lauren Daigle is gearing up to released her self-titled album, produced by Grammy®-winner, Mike Elizondo. Daigle plans to share in two parts with the first part arriving on May 12, and the second being released later this year.
“This is my most precious project,” Daigle shares, “It’s got fun moments, solemn moments, extrovert moments and introvert moments. And I’m just thrilled about taking my songwriting further on this record than anything I’ve done previously.”
To Embark On The Kaleidoscope Tour
Daigle will also take her new album on the road later this year on her recently announced Kaleidoscope Tour. The trek is expected to kick off on September 6 in Memphis, TN and will include stops in Boston, Atlanta, and Seattle before wrapping up on December 9 in Greenville, SC at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Kaleidoscope Tour will also find Daigle visiting several cities that she hasn’t performed in nearly four years, including Baton Rouge, Baltimore and Tulsa.
“I am pumped to announce some good news to y’all,” she began in a video posted to social media. “I don’t know what you’re gonna be doing in the fall, but what I’m gonna be doing in the fall is touring. I’m finally coming probably to a city near you. I cannot wait. I’ve been waiting for you guys to hear this music live and in person and it’s gonna be really, really special.”
What Happened At The Covenant School In Nashville?
Monday evening’s (Mar. 27) shooting took place inside Covenant School in the city’s affluent suburb of Green Hills. The assailant was a female gunman. The shooter was identified as a 28-year-old transgender by the name of Audrey Hale, a Nashville resident and a former student of Covenant school.
The victims included the head of the school, Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and Mike Hill, 61. Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, all of whom were 9 years old, also lost their lives in the attack.
According to authorities, Hale was armed with two “assault-type rifles” and a handgun when she entered the campus through a side door and used her knowledge of the school to carry out the deadly attack. Law enforcement completed their duty of engaging the shooter in 14 minutes, according to Nashville Mayor John Cooper.
“The police department response was swift,” MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron told reporters, according to American Songwriter. “They heard shots coming from the second level. They immediately went to the gunfire. When the officers got to the second level, they saw a shooter, a female, who was firing. The officers engaged her. She was fatally shot by responding police officers.”
The investigation is ongoing.
