Whether it’s a graduation slideshow soundtracked by “100 Years,” a wedding dance to “Chances” or a difficult time eased by “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” singer John Ondrasik has built a career writing songs that have become the soundtrack for some of life’s biggest milestones.

Now, the Grammy-nominated singer behind Five For Fighting will bring his hit songs to Colorado Springs.

Along with drummer Randy Cooke, bassist Sean Hurley and guitarist Peter Thorn, Five for Fighting will join Edwin McCain for a co-headlining performance at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Pikes Peak Center. 

Over the past two decades, Ondrasik has released six studio albums, earning more than a billion streams online and lending his anthems to film and TV hits like “The Blind Side,” “The Sopranos,” “Code Black” and more. 

He also co-founded the music education nonprofit Let Music Fill My World, along with using his songwriting to address veteran issues and numerous humanitarian causes.

Ahead of Sunday’s show, Ondrasik discussed the enduring appeal of his music, lasting fan interactions and the causes that continue to inspire him on and offstage.

Question: Some of your songs like “100 Years” and “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” are still played more than two decades later. Why do you think your music continues to connect with people of all ages?

Answer: The Beatles, Elton, James Taylor, The Who, Zeppelin, you know, all of those artists, we still hear their songs today, right? Why is that? I think those songs have a meaning. They have a beginning and end. They have a sentiment, and the lyrics say something. Like “Superman,” the themes of my songs are kind of what you hear every day. That, at the end of the day, we’re human and we do the best we can. “100 years” tells you to appreciate the moment. I think those sentiments are kind of universal, and for whatever reason, they may be as prevalent in the culture now as they were 25 years ago, which is pretty wild when you look out and see 13-year-olds singing back to you. 

Q: You’ve written songs that have become part of major life moments, like weddings, graduations and memorials. Have fans ever shared stories that particularly stuck with you?

A: There’s one story that just speaks to the power of music. “Superman” was a song that was really kind of embraced by the autism community. There was one particular show, I was kind of walking off the stage and there were two parents with their son severely on the spectrum. He really couldn’t make eye contact and was kind of having some issues, and they said, “Hey, here’s the ‘Superman’ singer.” The boy kind of froze, came within a foot of my face, smiled, looked me right in the eye and sang “Superman” verbatim. The whole song. It was like a religious experience, and it was just early evidence to me how music can really transcend and connect in ways nothing else can. 

Q: Your chart-topping song “100 Years” is all about how quickly life passes. Looking at your own life and career now, do you still think that’s true? Is there anything you wish you could tell your younger self, maybe?

A: When you’re sitting there playing a song, you think about where you were when you wrote it. “Bella’s Birthday Cake” song is about a woman in her 50s or turning 50. It’s her birthday party, and she’s kind of crazy and lonely. When I wrote that song in my 20s, I was thinking, “Boy, 50 years old. That’s really old.” Now, I’m 61 singing about Bella, and she’s like a spring chicken to me. I would tell my 20-year-old self to enjoy it more. So much of my success has nothing to do with music. It’s work ethic. It’s perseverance. I’d hope to take a minute to sit back and enjoy it more. 

Q: You write a lot of songs that deal with very heavy subjects or have political undertones. Is there one song that you’re most proud of or means the most to you?

A: I’ve always had a worldview in my songs, and I think if you listen to them, they certainly recognize families, veterans and our troops. That’s always been the honor and focus of my career. Those are songs that certainly have a point of view that some people appreciate and some people really don’t. But I think there’s a history in music of songwriters writing about the world around them, and I think I do feel a certain obligation to write about things I see, whether they inspire me or anger me. That’s what music does. I like to think that I can use my platform and my music to shine light on causes that matter to me. 

Q: What inspired you to create the music education nonprofit, Let Music Fill My World?

A: When I was in school, our funding for California music was cut. I think that’s a huge problem, particularly on the coasts, where music has kind of fallen out of curriculum. All the metrics and data show that if you have music in the schools, kids do better in the sciences. They do better at writing. The community is better. It’s a healthier school. Not everybody’s an athlete, so it’s an escape. It’s a place to keep kids safe where they can communicate through music. So that’s why me and my partner, Cayley Tull, who leads this effort, have been so passionate about bringing awareness to music and providing literal music teachers to schools that lost them. 

Q: You’re coming to Colorado Springs with Edwin McCain. What can audiences expect from this tour? How has it been performing with him so far?

A: I love Colorado Springs. I’ve probably been to the Broadmoor a dozen times for keynotes, and I always go on hikes or take the trolley. My wife and I even talk about our fantasies of moving to Colorado Springs, and coming here with Edwin McCain is amazing. His song “I’ll be” is just a massive classic from the late ‘90s. Every time he sings it, half the crowd’s crying. He’s a wonderful performer, and we hope folks know it’s a family show that they can bring everyone to.

IF YOU GO

What: Five for Fighting and Edwin McCain

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28

Where: Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave.

Price: $41-$141, pikespeakcenter.com