Giants of country music—its Father, First Lady, High Priest and even its “Hillbilly Cat”—were born here. For every Jimmie Rodgers, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty and Elvis Presley, there is another Mississippian whose talent surpassed stereotypes to greatly expand country music and its fan base. From Charley Pride, the most successful African American artist in the genre, to “Mississippi Girl” Faith Hill, a huge pop-crossover star, to the many others whose names are less known, Mississippians have made their marks on country music. The Country Music Trail commemorates their many varied contributions and influences as well as the places that cradled their creativity.
