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“The Heart Behind the Music” Songwriter’s Showcase brings an evening of deeply personal performances from five exceptional artists to the MSU Riley Center in downtown Meridian next month. Jim Brickman, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Susan Ashton, Lenny LeBlanc and Bill Champlin will take the stage on April 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Brickman’s romantic piano playing and easygoing charm have earned him four gold albums. Chapman has written or co-written many country, rock, and pop hits, including the Faith Hill smash “This Kiss.” Ashton has recently returned to contemporary Christian and country music after more than a decade away, her angelic voice intact. LeBlanc, part of the fabled music scene in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, had a 1978 hit with “Falling” as half of LeBlanc and Carr but now concentrates on Christian music. Champlin, a longtime member of the group Chicago, now focuses on writing and playing music that touches him personally.

“The Heart Behind the Music” Songwriter’s Showcase features these exceptional performers sitting on stage, each with just a guitar or keyboard. The intimate format forges an exceptional bond with the audience, reinforced by often humorous, often poignant stories about how the songs came to be.

Tickets are $39 and $33 at the MSU Riley Center Box Office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets can be purchased online at or by calling the box office at 601-696-2200.