{"id":27706,"date":"2024-07-18T13:58:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T18:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/%poi_type%\/mississippi-country-music-trail-country-music-comes-of-age\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T14:30:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T19:30:58","slug":"mississippi-country-music-trail-country-music-comes-of-age","status":"publish","type":"poi","link":"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/country-music-trail\/mississippi-country-music-trail-country-music-comes-of-age\/","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi Country Music Trail &#8211; Country Music Comes of Age"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull header-image\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#5d4532\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1000\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-post-image lazyload\" alt=\"A guitar, cowboy boots, and cowboy hat in sepia tone.\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-540x338.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-post-image lazyload\" alt=\"A guitar, cowboy boots, and cowboy hat in sepia tone.\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Music-POI-Default-Image-540x338.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/noscript><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-vms-lyellow-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0px\">Mississippi Country Music Trail &#8211; Country Music Comes of Age<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"trail-marker-location wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/cultural-trails\/?_sfm_details_0_city=Meridian\">Trail Marker Location: Meridian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Marker Front: <br><\/strong>Meridian&#8217;s Jimmie Rodgers Day festivals of the 1950s, the first held May 26, 1953, became known as National Country Music Days, marking a turning point in the nation&#8217;s enthusiasm for country music. Stars and fans from every country music style, from old-time hillbilly to pop balladry and rockabilly, came together in this celebration of music that was to win fans around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Marker Back: <br><\/strong>In 1953, as the twentieth anniversary of Jimmie Rodgers\u2019 death on May 26th approached, his musical heirs, along with his family and the citizens of his hometown of Meridian, set out to honor his memory in a way that would further his legacy. Country stars Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow, both fans and acolytes of Jimmie\u2019s music whose careers had been helped along by his widow, Carrie Rodgers, initiated a project to have a Jimmie Rodgers monument designed and erected. They planned to stage a \u201chuge,\u201d well-publicized country music show as the monument was unveiled. The Meridian Star newspaper and Meridian city council were already planning to celebrate Meridian\u2019s history as a railway center with&nbsp;the dedication of a steam locomotive to the deceased railroad men of the town; combined, they would be called officially \u201cJimmie Rodgers and Railroadmen Memorial Day,\u201d but the event would have significance that was much broader. It would be a milestone in country music history.<br><br>In Jimmie Rodgers, the global industry developing and gelling around country music in the 1950s found a father figure who\u2019d stood for bringing the rural and urban together, for modernizing the music but never forgetting the folks down home. What he was about, country music was now about. Performers from every far-flung flavor of country came to Meridian to perform that day: Hank Thompson, Leon McAuliffe and Tommy Duncan from Western Swing; Lefty Frizzell, Jimmie Dickens, and Webb Pierce from honky tonk; Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins and George Morgan representing the rising new country pop sounds, and such traditional country legends as A.P. Sara, and Maybelle Carter, Bill and Charlie Monroe, Jimmie Davis, and Roy Acuff. In the years that followed, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and others would add the new rockabilly sounds. Tens of thousands of country music fans filled the streets of Meridian for the parades and shows that became annual events for decades to come.<br><br>In effectively and deliberately demonstrating country music\u2019s strength and reach, in presenting it as a worthy and dignified&nbsp;addition to American culture with a history worth noting as well as a promising future, The Jimmie Rodgers Festivals paved the way for such developments as the Country Music Association and its later \u201cFan Fair\u201d festivals, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. For country music, the festivals\u2019 advent in these streets in 1953 was a moment of self-recognition and acceptance\u2014of coming of age.<br><br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div style=\"height:13px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34866 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34866 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-768x767.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker-800x799.jpg 800w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Country-Trail-Marker.jpg 1241w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"learn-more-abd9d24e-36c0-464a-8d73-52f10b1af69d\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-41479 lazyload\" style=\"width: 15px; vertical-align: -1px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Globe-Icon.svg\" alt=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"82\" height=\"82\" class=\"wp-image-41479 lazyload\" style=\"width: 15px; vertical-align: -1px;\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Globe-Icon.svg\" alt=\"\"><\/noscript> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mississippiencyclopedia.org\/entries\/jimmie-rodgers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mississippi Encyclopedia: Jimmie Rodgers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-41479 lazyload\" style=\"width: 15px; vertical-align: -1px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Globe-Icon.svg\" alt=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"82\" height=\"82\" class=\"wp-image-41479 lazyload\" style=\"width: 15px; vertical-align: -1px;\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Globe-Icon.svg\" alt=\"\"><\/noscript> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimmierodgers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Jimmie Rodgers Museum and Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-41479 lazyload\" style=\"width: 15px; vertical-align: -1px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Globe-Icon.svg\" alt=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"82\" height=\"82\" class=\"wp-image-41479 lazyload\" style=\"width: 15px; vertical-align: -1px;\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Globe-Icon.svg\" alt=\"\"><\/noscript> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimmierodgers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Country Music Hall of Fame \u2013\u00a0Jimmie Rodgers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-vms-lyellow-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-883d69b4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0\">\n<iframe style=\"border-radius:0; width:100%; height:50vh;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/5WI4mOfhVXC8D5Wg2fd6Xd?utm_source=generator\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; align=\"center\"; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Jimmie Rodgers 2011 Folk Alliance International Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F29RDBZcCjk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-vms-mblue-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<div style=\"height:1rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color\" id=\"explore-nearby-attractions-62803be5-22b1-40dd-a8ed-0fb0b667ce8a\">Explore Nearby Attractions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">The Mississippi Country Music Trail connects you to towns rich in history, culture, and character. Discover more things to see and do in Meridian from <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmeridian.com\/\">Visit Meridian<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/MSU-Riley-Center-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38669 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/MSU-Riley-Center-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38669 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/MSU-Riley-Center-Thumb.jpg 400w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/MSU-Riley-Center-Thumb-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/msu-riley-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MSU Riley Center<\/a><\/strong><br><em><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/msu-riley-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meridian<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MS-Childrens-Museum-Meridian-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38672 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MS-Childrens-Museum-Meridian-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38672 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MS-Childrens-Museum-Meridian-Thumb.jpg 400w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MS-Childrens-Museum-Meridian-Thumb-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/mississippi-childrens-museum-meridian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mississippi Children\u2019s Museum \u2013 Meridian<\/a><\/strong><br><em><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/mississippi-childrens-museum-meridian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meridian<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Jimmie-Rodgers-Museum-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38673 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Jimmie-Rodgers-Museum-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38673 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Jimmie-Rodgers-Museum-Thumb.jpg 400w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Jimmie-Rodgers-Museum-Thumb-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/grammy-museum-mississippi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/jimmie-rodgers-museum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Jimmie Rodgers Museum<\/strong><\/a><br><em><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/jimmie-rodgers-museum\/\">Meridian<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MAX-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38674 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MAX-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38674 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MAX-Thumb.jpg 400w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MAX-Thumb-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lmdc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/art-museums\/mississippi-arts-entertainment-experience-the-max\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience<\/a><\/strong><br><em><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/art-museums\/mississippi-arts-entertainment-experience-the-max\/\">Meridian<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Bonita-Lakes-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38675 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Bonita-Lakes-Thumb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38675 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Bonita-Lakes-Thumb.jpg 400w, https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Bonita-Lakes-Thumb-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/cycling\/bonita-lakes-park\/\">Bonita Lakes Park<\/a><\/strong><br><em><a href=\"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/things-to-do\/cycling\/bonita-lakes-park\/\">Meridian<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mississippi Country Music Trail &#8211; Country Music Comes of Age Trail Marker Location: Meridian Marker Front: Meridian&#8217;s Jimmie Rodgers Day festivals of the 1950s, the first held May 26, 1953, became known as National Country Music Days, marking a turning [\u2026]<\/p>\n<p>\n","protected":false},"author":708,"featured_media":27680,"template":"","poi_type":[225,54],"class_list":["post-27706","poi","type-poi","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","poi_type-country-music-trail","poi_type-music"],"acf":{"details":[{"acf_fc_layout":"address_group","street_address":"22nd Avenue and 4th Street","city":"Meridian","zip":""}],"search_image":false,"gallery":false,"location":{"address":"22nd Avenue and 4th Street, Meridian","lat":"32.363565","lng":"-88.699667"},"region":"5","featured":true,"hide_hero":true},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mississippi Country Music Trail - Country Music Comes of Age - Visit Mississippi<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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