Jimmie Rodgers Museum and Festival

10/18/2026

When one of bluegrass music’s most exciting rising acts comes to pay homage to the Father of America’s Music, we love showing them why Meridian is such a special cultural destination!

The Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters enjoyed the beauty of Anne’s Alley, explored The MAX (which thoroughly impressed them!), and were treated to lunch by Cater's at The Museum!

Our only regret is that we couldn’t keep them longer. There’s so much more of Downtown Meridian and its rich musical heritage we would have loved to share! 💙🎶

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10/16/2026

🌞 The Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters brought their voices and some Jimmie Rodgers songs to the museum! What a joy to welcome them and interview them on the Supertalk Meridian 103.3.

Thank you to Scotty Ray Report for coming out to document their visit, and to Cater's at The Museum for extending such wonderful Meridian hospitality. We love seeing these talented young artists honor Jimmie’s legacy and keep his music alive! 🎶

Please follow their page to see more about their visit to Meridian! We will be sharing more soon, too.

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10/16/2026

Ken Rainey was the director of our festival for many years, and he may not have been a musician, but he lived artfully.

Garth Brooks signed a record for Ken: “Thank you for believing in me before I believed in myself.” So many of us know exactly what he meant. Ken made us feel like we were his best friend and that what we had to offer mattered.

We are grateful for Ken’s decades of hard work for the Jimmie Rodgers Foundation and his dedication to Meridian’s musical heritage.

Thank you to the City of Meridian-Government for being our partners in music and helping us celebrate Ken. People like him bring meaning to “Meridian—where music meets momentum.”

Thank you, Ken, for believing in us.

10/14/2026

Catch Bobby Sanders this Saturday, October 17, at 3 p.m. for the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute benefit at Skynyrd Crash Site in Gillsburg, MS!

On his way there, Bobby stopped by the Jimmie Rodgers Museum for tickets to the Ken Rainey Tribute show October 15th. Instead of heading on to the Doobie Brothers show and circling back, he and his lovely wife, Jessica, decided to stay in Meridian another night or two!

Our rich music history brings great musicians like Bobby here, and everything Meridian offers gives them reasons to stay. From recording at Governor’s Recording Studio at The MAX to enjoying our local shows, our musical heritage continues to inspire.

We are proud to partner with City of Meridian-Government to feature such an accomplished musician. Al Brown’s idea to feature musicians in our beautiful City Hall stairwell is golden! Like and share if you want to see a Stairwell Sessions Series!

10/12/2026

Thank you to Meridian Lauderdale County Public Library for welcoming our Executive Director, Alana Broughton, for today’s Musician Spotlight!

It was a wonderful opportunity to share music and Jimmie Rodgers’ story, connecting Meridian’s history with the musical legacy that continues to reach around the world. We’re grateful to the library for helping us share that story with our community!

The Meridian-Lauderdale Public Library held a Musician Spotlight today. Residents were given a chance to hear stories and music from a local musician, Alana Broughton. Twin States News was there

10/08/2026

Progress at the future Jimmie Rodgers Museum campus! 💙

The Southern Sportsman signs have officially come down and gone home with the family whose legacy they represent. We are deeply grateful to them for caring about what this property will become and for helping us reach this moment.

People from around the world already plan their travels around visiting our little museum. Earlier this week, a couple left in tears. Jimmie’s story, and the power of his music to bring people together across generations, cultures, and continents really is THAT impactful.

Some may see a blank building. We see room to tell his full story, welcome tour buses, and build a cultural heritage landmark worthy of the Father of America’s Music.

The signs coming down are visible progress, but so much more is happening behind the scenes.

Can you see it, City of Meridian-Government ? 💙

10/06/2026

Thank you to Joseph and Twin States News for sharing our museum’s progress and recognizing Jimmie’s importance to Meridian and the world!

Have Jimmie Rodgers Festival photos, posters, programs, recordings, or other memorabilia? Anything Jimmie Rodgers related? We’d love to hear from you as we prepare for our future home.

Message us and help preserve this musical history! ❤️

As the Jimmie Rodgers Museum continues to prepare for their move into their new home, new items are being added as well as the Foundation looking for new items. Twin

09/30/2026

Happy birthday to our friend Marty Stuart! 🎉

Marty, thank you for your friendship and for the love you’ve shown Jimmie Rodgers and his music. We’re grateful for you and hope you have a wonderful birthday.

Sending love from Meridian! ❤️

09/28/2026

Experts believe the microphone used to record Jimmie Rodgers in the earth-shattering “Bristol Sessions” of 1927 was a Western Electric “Double-Button” Carbon Microphone, like this one. We’re so excited to have one in the collection for the future new Museum! Thank you, Randy Moffett, for reassembling this one for “The Jimmie”!

09/25/2026

We are grateful for The Riley Foundation’s support. It made a meaningful difference as we purchased our new museum campus and took this step toward a permanent home for Jimmie’s story.

Congratulations to Becky Farley on 33 years of service. Thank you, Becky and the entire Riley Foundation board, for all you have done for Meridian.

After 33 years of combined service with Riley Development Systems and The Riley Foundation, Becky Farley retired as Executive Director of The Riley Foundation on December 31, 2025.

In January 2026, Farley joined the Board of Directors of The Riley Foundation, where she serves on the Executive Committee as board secretary and will continue her role as liaison to Mississippi State University.

The Riley Foundation was established in January 1998 following the sale of Riley Memorial Hospital. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $85 million in grants in Meridian.

In 1999, The Riley Foundation acquired the Grand Opera House and the former Marks Rothenberg buildings and donated both properties to Mississippi State University, along with $15 million to establish the MSU Riley Education and Performing Arts Center. This marked the beginning of the Foundation’s longstanding partnership with Mississippi State University and was the beginning of Meridian’s downtown revitalization.

The Riley Foundation acquired the remaining two buildings on the block—the Deen and Rosenbaum buildings — which currently house Mississippi State University’s healthcare programs. This acquisition transformed an entire block of vacant, deteriorating buildings into space dedicated to education and community development.

To date, The Riley Foundation has awarded more than $55 million to Mississippi State University to support scholarships, capital improvements, and startup costs associated with MSU’s healthcare programs. These programs include the expansion of Mental Health programs, including the new Doctor of Psychology degree; the Physician Assistant program; the Master of Science in Nursing program; and startup costs for the upcoming Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Other significant downtown Meridian grants include start up costs of $4 million for both the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The MAX) and Mississippi Children’s Museum – Meridian.

The Riley Foundation has also supported the Meridian community through funding for numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Meridian Art Association, The Jimmie Rodgers Foundation, Free Clinic of Meridian, L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen, and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, among many others.

As Mississippi State University–Meridian continues to increase its presence in downtown Meridian, there has been a significant ripple effect throughout the community. The Riley Foundation continues to play an important role in reshaping and revitalizing downtown Meridian, with additional opportunities and initiatives to be announced in the coming months.

The Board of Directors guides the Foundation’s activities and includes: Marty Davidson, chairman and CEO; Malcolm Portera, Ph.D., vice president; Becky Farley, secretary; Tommy Dulaney, treasurer; Richard F. Riley Jr.; Christine Riley; Lindy Deen; Manny Mitchell; Wayne Henson; Will Simmons; Jay Davidson; and Gail W. Riley, director emeritus. Jan Wells is the executive assistant.

Pictured are the members of The Riley Foundation’s Executive Committee: Seated: Marty Davidson, President and CEO; and Becky Farley, Secretary. Standing: Tommy Dulaney, Treasurer; and Dr. Malcolm Portera, Vice President.