NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 31, 2022) - Multi-award-winning singer/songwriter/recording artist and college professor, Dr. Jason Lee McKinney, has added "author" to his list of accomplishments with the unveiling of his debut book, Deconstructing a Disciple’s Doubt, recently released to retail from WordCrafts Press.

Perhaps better known as the founder and frontman for the acclaimed Americana roots band that shares his name, McKinney has spent more than a decade cementing a reputation for himself and The Jason Lee McKinney Band in the competitive world of modern-day roots music, resulting in worldwide recognition, national and international tours, and a number of industry awards, including a 2021 Josie Music Award for R&B/Soul Entertainer of the Year, a 2019 Josie Music Award for R&B/Soul Vocalist of the Year, and a 2014 Independent Country Music Association Award for Artist of the Year.

McKinney’s independent artistic creativity drove him to pursue multiple academic degrees, including a BA in Management, an MBA, an MA in Philosophy and Apologetics, and an Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice.

“I have spent most of my adult life working in the creative realm as a songwriter and performer,” says McKinney. “We creatives tend to wonder and wander. We are natural rebels who buck against trend and trite."

Deconstructing a Disciple’s Doubt, the debut book from multi-award-winning singer/songwriter/recording artist and college professor, Dr. Jason Lee McKinney, examines faith through the lens of doubt. (Cover art courtesy WordCrafts Press)

"We approach the well-worn and trodden paths with suspicion," McKinney continues. "All humans ask the big questions, but songwriters hold a mirror of the big questions back at humanity. I have both picked the big questions apart and been paralyzingly plagued by them. Art articulates the soul and music muses on the meaning of life. Philosophy is intrinsic to the songwriter; I just decided to expand my philosophical positing and prose beyond the confines of 3-minute rhythm and rhyme.”

The result of McKinney’s expanded philosophical positing and prose is his new book, Deconstructing a Disciple’s Doubt, a philosophy book for philosophy students, lay philosophers, non-philosophers, and people who can’t even spell philosopher. It’s a book for people who ask big questions like, What is the true nature of truth? Is there such a thing as evil? Is there truly a difference between the world’s religions?

“Deconstructing a Disciple’s Doubt is for doubting Thomases and denying Peters,” McKinney explains. “It’s for atheists whose fondest memories are of their devout grandmothers reading them the old stories of the faith. It’s for the believer who does not understand for the life of them why certain things appear to be the way they are. It’s for the atheist who understands why their friend has faith, and it is for the friend who understands how someone could be an atheist. I wrote this book for the wonderers and wanderers--those who not only doubt but are brave enough or plagued enough to doubt everything. This book is absolutely for those who doubt their doubt.”

Although written for a lay audience, McKinney admits the language in this book may at times get a bit technical for non-philosophers, but he also acknowledges that the concepts being addressed are big, and to speak to them with any sort of intellectual currency, precision of language is vital. He defines each of the technical words in plain language, providing context, analogy, analysis, and metaphor to ease the understanding. To illustrate the concepts, he inserts dialogue from movie and TV scenes, along with his own song lyrics and QR codes to the songs. “I promise this is not an ego play, just hopefully an aid in helping you understand,” he quips.

McKinney freely admits that those with academic training in philosophy or theology may view the book as pop philosophy due to the numerous movie quotes and song lyrics and the many simple anecdotes from his life. “But,” he notes, “the aim of this book is not for philosophers and theologians. The aim of this book is for the average person who still asks and is kept up late at night by the big questions. I wrote this book not from the position of someone who knows it all (or even knows much at all) but rather as one humble offering of one person’s experience of having intellectual, emotional, and spiritual doubts. Through my many deconstructions and reconstructions I have re-found, rebuilt and reclaimed my faith again and again, though not without change, transformation and scars. I wrote this book to help others like me, and I sincerely hope it does.”

For more information about Dr. McKinney, his debut book, Deconstructing a Disciple’s Doubt, and One Last Thing, his recently-released 11th studio album with The Jason Lee McKinney Band, visit jasonleemckinneyband.com.

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About The Jason Lee McKinney Band's new album, One Last Thing:

The Nashville-based Jason Lee McKinney Band offers up 16 new spiritual songs on One Last Thing, the group's 11th studio album and their first to embrace a gospel vibe that seamlessly matches the band's soulful stew of rock, R&B, folk, blues, and country. Breathing new life into the Christian Rock genre by weaving words and scripture to a Soulful Roots Rock background, One Last Thing, which released on March 18, 2022, takes lyrical inspiration from scripture and musical cues from the band's previous ten releases. 

"One Last Thing brings out an overtone that has always been an undertone in our music in that it is drenched in the gospel," says McKinney, an award-winning singer, songwriter, recording artist, and musician, who penned all 16 songs on the record.

"On this album, we brought both the musical style and the message of the gospel to the foreground," McKinney continues. "That vibe was always part of our foundation, but now it's front and center. It really didn't happen through some master plan, but rather organically. Between the political climate and the pandemic, we found ourselves drawn to hope. Gospel music and the message it represents resonate that feeling."

The multi-award-winning Nashville-based Jason Lee McKinney Band released its latest project, One Last Thing, on March 18, 2022. It is the group's 11th studio album and the first to embrace a gospel vibe that seamlessly matches the band's soulful stew of rock, R&B, folk, blues, and country. (Cover art courtesy of The Jason Lee McKinney Band and Bonfire Music Group)

Critics are praising the project.

"The album has been described as "Life-affirming music—songs and musicians with the power to lift souls into the heavens—always manage to arrive when we need it most. Call these mini sermons of healing delivered by prophets with microphones, guitars, basses, drums, and keyboards. They are sonic balms that energize just as they soothe." — Ross Cluver, CCMmagazine.com

"The Jason Lee McKinney Band is hitting on all cylinders with a fusion sound that stands out in a crowded music landscape. Their album One Last Thing takes you on a soulful ride musically and offers lyrics that speak hope and truth to the weary traveler. Put this album on repeat!" — Dave Trout, UTR Media

"One Last Thing by Jason Lee McKinney Band has a powerful roots blues/gospel sound with outstanding vocals and guitar work! I was inspired to listen to it many times and am planning for more!" — Larry Stephan, The Phantom Tollbooth

"The Jason Lee McKinney Band has reached a pinnacle with One Last Thing . . . This band is too good." — Bryce Harmon, The Murfreesboro Pulse

McKinney, who handles lead and background vocals, electric and acoustic guitars on One Last Thing, is joined by bandmates Barry Strauser on piano, organ, keyboards, and background vocals; Billy Wright on bass; Sam Berce on electric and acoustic guitars; and Logan Todd on drums and percussion. The record also features an array of guest musicians like Simon Alexander, Sebastian Falvo, Shannon Wickline, and Jules Belmont. 

McKinney has spent more than a decade cementing a name for himself and his band in the competitive world of modern-day roots music. He's a tireless artist, a man who has earned a Doctorate, MBA, and BA in Management, and spent time as a college music professor. McKinney and company made it a point to not coast during the upheaval of the pandemic, instead choosing to stay creative to keep the soul alive. 

For more information on The Jason Lee McKinney Band and One Last Thing, click here.

About Dr. Jason Lee McKinney:

Debut author, Dr. Jason Lee McKinney, is a multiple award-winning singer-songwriter, recording artist, college professor, and lay philosopher. He tours internationally with his band, The Jason Lee McKinney Band.

Dr. McKinney holds a BA in Management, an MBA, an MA in Philosophy and Apologetics, and an Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice.

He resides in Nashville with his wife Summer (a therapist and author) and eight-year old son Kai (a drum phenom). The McKinneys also have two grown sons—Zeke (a recording artist for Tooth & Nail records) and Zion (a worship leader at LifePoint church), one grown daughter, Zakyra (who is studying to be a theater teacher) and one daughter-in-law, Juliana (a middle school choir director and wife to Zion).

Dr. McKinney released his debut book, Deconstructing a Disciple’s Doubt, on May 5, 2022, and One Last Thing, his 11th studio album with his band, on March 18, 2022.

For more information about Dr. McKinney, visit jasonleemckinneyband.com.

Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, recording artist, and college professor, Dr. Jason Lee McKinney, has recently released his debut book, Deconstructing a Disciple’s Doubt, and One Last Thing, his new studio album with The Jason Lee McKinney Band. (Sean Von Tagen Photo)