Check Out Caitlin Cusack’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Cusack.

Caitlin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Music has been woven into my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up with a musical mom, I immersed myself in every creative space I could find—band, choir, theatre—anything that allowed me to express myself. That passion led me to earn a degree in music from Grand Valley State University and opportunities to train in New York City with Tony Award-winning teachers and directors. Over the years, I built a life in the Grand Rapids music community as a performer, voice teacher, music director, and more recently as a songwriter and recording artist.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ll say the path has been rocky! On my 26th birthday, I got a concussion that changed my life forever. What should have been a night of celebration turned into the beginning of a long and difficult journey of rehabilitation… And exactly one year later, on my 27th birthday, my mother passed away unexpectedly from cancer. It felt unbearably cruel, coming so soon after losing my father to Multiple System Atrophy just a few years before. The weight of loss pressed heavily on me as well as the struggles of navigating life with a a changed brain, and for a time, I wasn’t sure how to move forward.

Somewhere along the line in my recovery journey, I found my way back to music. At first, it was a personal refuge—a way to piece my brain back together and process the grief of losing my parents and the life I had once led. But as I wrote, I realized these songs weren’t just for me; this music was meant to be found by others searching for light in their own struggles. That realization set everything in my music career into motion.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
These days, I am still focused on healing and building a career as a musical artist. During my healing journey, I’ve had some incredible opportunities for learning and growth! In 2022, an incredible opportunity came my way when I was selected as one of fifty songwriters worldwide to attend the first “SongCon” in New York City with Ari Herstand and Danny Ross. I had not yet released any of my original music, but I played my song “I’ll Be Okay,” an anthem based on my experience of losing my parents and brain injury recovery, to the roomful of international songwriters.. and I received a standing ovation! It was an incredible experience that connected with others on a such a deep level, and encouraged me to record and release that song shortly after I got home.

My debut single, “I’ll Be Okay,” released on my birthday in May, 2022, marked the beginning of something bigger than I imagined. It found its way onto playlists thousands of listeners and was featured by local news outlets, including the Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Greenville Daily News, and WGVU Morning Show with Shelley Irwin. That song was my promise to myself—and to anyone listening—that even through pain, we can find our way to healing.

In May 2023, I released my debut EP, Quiet My Mind—a milestone in both my musical career and my personal journey. Inspired by my experiences of recovering from brain injury and loss, I felt that producing those songs transformed my grief into something beautiful. The EP’s genre-bending blend of cinematic pop and Americana-infused folk resonated with listeners, reaching 15,000 streams on Spotify. I released the EP alongside a concussion blog and brain injury resources on my website. John Sinkevics of Local Spins described it best: “Balancing light and darkness, joy and pain, Caitlin Cusack has created a powerful collection of pop music sparked by her struggles following a concussion—helping raise awareness of the seriousness of brain injuries.”

As my music continued to reach more people, I was honored to be selected to give a TEDx Talk in October 2024: Overcoming Brain Injury and Loss: The Healing Power of Music. Sharing my story on that stage, weaving my songs into the narrative, felt like a full-circle moment—a chance to turn pain into purpose.

In August 2024, I was thrilled to learn that I was the #1 most-listened-to artist in the Kent District Library Vibes Music Collection, with four of the five most-streamed songs by local musicians. And in Fall 2024, I released The You Carry Me Project, a deeply personal tribute to my parents—three original songs and music videos honoring their memory. In February 2025, the project won the WYCE Jammie Award for Best Pop Album. That same night, I was awarded the “Against All Odds” award, recognizing my journey of creating music despite adversity.

Through all of these highs and lows, one thing remains true: music has been my lifeline. It has carried me through the darkest moments and given me a way to connect with others who are finding their own path through pain. I look forward to seeing where music leads me in the future.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
In the time where my brain injury forced me to retreat from the world… I felt like I had lost everything. So I started to explore what my life might look like if I had to totally start over. In that time of exploration, I found that I am really drawn to water. I love the Lake Michigan, but even further- I love the ocean. I became a fan of surfing because it felt like it represented the ultimate freedom- to be able to ride the waves takes a lot of skill and negotiating with something much larger than oneself. And while I can’t say I’m a surfer myself (yet?)… I still follow my favorite surfers today!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.caitlincusackmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlincusackmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlincusackmusic/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlincusackmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caitlincusackmusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/caitlincusackmusic