Discover the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience: Honoring the Fifth Class of Hall of Fame Inductees!

The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) will celebrate its fifth class of Hall of Fame inductees on January 23 at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian. This ceremony, open to the public, will honor five remarkable individuals.

This year’s inductees are: singer-songwriter Mac McAnally, folklorist William “Bill” Ferris, historian Shelby Foote, poet Natasha Trethewey, and singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry. The ceremony will feature tributes and live music, including performances from McAnally, the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band, and Tricia Walker.

Marty Gamblin, a long-time Hall of Fame consultant who sadly passed away in October, played a key role in selecting the inductees. He was the founding director of The MAX and made significant contributions to the music industry. In his honor, he will also receive a star on The MAX Walk of Fame, joining Ferris, Foote, Gentry, and Trethewey; McAnally received his star in 2012.

Mac McAnally is well-known for his work with Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He has released over a dozen albums and written hits for various artists, including Kenny Chesney’s “Back Where I Come From.” Born in Belmont, Mississippi, he began singing and playing piano in church. He has been named Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association ten times.

Bobbie Gentry gained fame with her powerful song “Ode to Billie Joe” in 1967. She was one of the first female artists to write and produce her own music. Originally from Chickasaw County, Gentry starred in television specials, performed in Las Vegas, and released seven albums, earning numerous awards before her retirement in 1982.

William Ferris, from Vicksburg, is an author and college professor recognized for his work on Southern culture, blues, and African American folklore. He co-edited the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Encyclopedia of Southern Culture and received two Grammys for his documentary, Voices of Mississippi. Ferris founded the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi and served as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Shelby Foote, a native of Greenville, was an acclaimed novelist and historian known for his three-volume work, The Civil War: A Narrative. He provided expert commentary for Ken Burns’ documentary The Civil War. Foote’s other notable works include the historical novel Shiloh and several novels set in a fictional Mississippi Delta town.

Natasha Trethewey, a former poet laureate, explores themes of race and southern heritage in her poetry. She won the Pulitzer Prize for her collection Native Guard, which tells the story of a Black Union Army unit. Her earlier collection, Domestic Work, won the Cave Canem Prize for the best first book by a Black poet.

According to MAX President and CEO Penny Kemp, the works of these individuals showcase the rich cultural heritage of Mississippi. “From narratives about history and social change to chart-topping songs, these artists’ contributions are worth celebrating,” she says. “Their stories are particularly inspiring for young people.”

The Hall of Fame at The MAX, a 50,000-square-foot center dedicated to Mississippi’s arts and entertainment legacy, now features 38 stars with the addition of this year’s inductees.