GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi says the “Sparkle and Twang” 2021 Gala, held Wednesday, December 1st, raised a total of $120,000.00. Proceeds will directly benefit the Museum’s education programs.
The 2021 Gala was held at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in Cleveland, MS, and honored GRAMMY®-winning country musician Marty Stuart with the third annual Crossroads of American Music Award.
This year’s Gala also recognized Joe B. Raymond III, Mississippi-born educator, musician, and Army National Guard member, with the second annual L.U.C.Y. Award (Lifting Up Children and Youth).
“Our 2021 GRAMMY Museum Mississippi Gala was a night to remember,” said Emily Havens, Executive Director of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. “Not only did we have the privilege of celebrating a country music icon, Marty Stuart, and an incredible Mississippi educator, Joe B. Raymond III, but we raised over $120,000.00 for the Museum. These proceeds are going to directly support all of the important work we continue to do here at the Mississippi Museum to help educate our young people on the importance and value of music.”
The 2021 GRAMMY Museum Mississippi Gala was presented by the Red Carpet Guild and by Wal-Mart. Additional sponsors included Quality Steel, Visit Mississippi, Wade Inc., Whole Cellars, McCartys, and the Paul Janoush Family.
The 2021 GRAMMY Museum Gala featured performances by Marty Stuart, along with country singer/songwriter, and Mississippi native, Charlie Worsham, and Memphis party cover band Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster. The Gala also recognized the runner-up of the L.U.C.Y Award, Desiree Sartin of Rod Paige Middle School in Monticello, Miss. The Gala also included a live and silent auction featuring items from GRAMMY®-winning artists Jon Bon Jovi, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood and more.
Established by the Museum’s Board of Directors, the Crossroads of American Music Award honors an artist who has made significant musical contributions influenced by the creativity born in the cradle of American music. The inaugural recipient of the Crossroads of American Music Award was three-time GRAMMY Award winner, the late Charley Pride, and the 2020 recipient was GRAMMY-winning blues icon Bobby Rush.
Named after devoted Mississippian and community advocate, Lucy Janoush, who was instrumental in securing funding for the development of the Mississippi Museum, the L.U.C.Y. Award, which stands for Lifting Up Children and Youth, celebrates K-12 educators from the state of Mississippi who embody the educational mission of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi.
The annual GRAMMY Museum Mississippi Gala is the Museum’s signature fundraising event. Proceeds from this year’s gala will benefit the Museum’s education program, which seeks to use music as a gateway to learning by inspiring and cultivating creativity, critical thinking and self-expression.
