Inspired by the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Mississippi Walk of Fame located in Meridian, Mississippi, was created to honor performers in arts and entertainment that have a direct connection to Mississippi. By celebrating the culture of the region in such a simple but notable way, the Mississippi Walk of Fame has been able to cultivate the attention of the community and with visitors from across the state and beyond.
Celebrating the Legends of Mississippi
The first bronze star in the Mississippi Walk of Fame was unveiled in 2009 to commemorate the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers. Since then, dozens more have been added while additional new Walk of Fame stars are added every year. Stars begin in front of the MSU Riley Center, continue across the street to Dumont Plaza, and follow along the sidewalks to The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience.
Numerous Mississippi legends like Jimmie Rodgers, B. B. King, William Faulkner, Elvis Presley and Tennessee Williams have all been honored with a star. Contemporary artists and entertainers such as Sela Ward, Jimmy Buffett, Morgan Freeman, Marty Stuart, Steve Forbert and John Grisham have also received stars. The full list of inductees shows how each is honored as an author, musician, writer, photographer or a performing artist.
There are further plans for Mississippi artists of all kinds to be honored along the Mississippi Walk of Fame, with their stars forming a path that leads through downtown Meridian. Doing so has and will continue to impact the community in a positive manner.
Defining Meridian, the MAX and Mississippi
The Mississippi Walk of Fame has been able to generate activity throughout downtown Meridian that many of the surrounding businesses have benefitted from. The Meridian Walk of Fame runs in front of noted Meridian establishments like Weldmanns and across the street from the Jimmie Rodgers Museum. A Walk of Fame map provides visitors with the most up-to-date list of honored legends but also calls out these sorts of nearby attractions and establishments.
The Mississippi Walk of Fame has also been the focus of star dedication ceremonies, with many of the performers who have received stars attending these events to create much fanfare and excitement for the community. Morgan Freeman was on hand for the dedication of his star, while Steve Forbert mentioned that he was “overjoyed” to receive his star. Sela Ward delivered a powerful acceptance speech when she received her star, further connecting the Meridian Walk of Fame to the present and future of the community.
That connection is also evident in the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX), which celebrates the contributions Mississippi has made to every area of the arts. Designed to honor Mississippi’s legends in arts and entertainment and to inspire tomorrow’s artists through exhibitions, performances, classes, and events, the Mississippi Walk of Fame runs right in front of the building and has become one of the most powerful and notable ways in which artists are saluted.
This connection to specific establishments as well as to Meridian itself highlights the powerful ways that the Mississippi Walk of Fame has been able to define the city and surrounding community. Doing so has created a legacy that will further define Meridian and serve as an attraction for all of Mississippi.
Celebrating and Cultivating an Entire Community
The small markers that make up the Mississippi Walk of Fame have connected audiences with the art, music and literature of Mississippi in an incredibly profound way. What started as a single bronze star has been further developed to celebrate the wider Mississippi community that is set to become that much more powerful as the Walk of Fame continues to grow. With plenty of space and opportunity to do so, the Mississippi Walk of Fame highlights what it can look like to celebrate and cultivate an entire community to enable a positive impact for an entire city and region.
