Coming Home to Mississippi: Marty Stuart on Roots, Remembrance, and Reconciliation
Grammy-winning artist and cultural ambassador Marty Stuart reflects on his Mississippi roots, his life in music, and the power of reconciliation. From his childhood in Philadelphia to launching the Congress of Country Music in his hometown, Marty shares the values, stories, and people who shaped his journey. He and Charlie Worsham explore what makes Mississippi unique—and why coming home still holds so much meaning.
They discuss the true story that inspired The Pilgrim, recording with legends like Merle Haggard in Oxford, the origins of Marty's massive collection of historic music artifacts, and the importance of telling Mississippi’s story with truth and heart. Along the way, they touch on everything from Waffle House-sponsored tours to the spiritual weight of the Delta, the brilliance of Faulkner, and the joy and peace of coming home.
Mississippi places mentioned in this episode: Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music, Rowan Oak, Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Square Books, GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi, Neshoba County Fair, Choctaw Indian Fair, Philadelphia, Mississippi Delta, Oxford.
People and groups mentioned in this episode: Connie Smith, The Fabulous Superlatives, Hardy, Jimmie Rodgers, Howard Cole, Porter Wagoner, Wilburn Brothers, Del Reeves, Flatt and Scruggs, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride, Conway Twitty, Haley Barbour, Phil Bryant, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, Lloyd Green, Patsy Cline, Minnie Pearl, Jimmy Swan, Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Tom T. Hall, Dixie Hall, Pops Staples, the Staple Singers, Mavis Staples, Yvonne Staples, Chapel Hart, Will D. Campbell, Marc Dottore, Kathy Mattea, Robert Khayat, Paul Kingsbury, William Faulkner, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show, Merle Haggard, The Strangers, the Louvin Brothers, Carl Jackson, Del McCoury, Rhonda Vincent, Eddie Stubbs, Lester Flatt, Jim Weatherly, John Grisham, the Mannings (Archie, Peyton, Eli), Willie Morris, Mac McAnally, Howlin’ Wolf.