Annual event raised $150,000 for education programs
GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi has announced the “River and Roses” 2024 Gala, which was held on Oct. 3, raised a total of $150,000. Proceeds will directly benefit the Museum’s education programs. The 2024 Gala was held at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in Cleveland and honored GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash with the sixth annual Crossroads of American Music Award. This year’s Gala also recognized Pleasant Hill Elementary School teachers Susan Powell and Tiffany Lyles with the fifth annual L.U.C.Y. Award (Lifting Up Children and Youth).
“It was a memorable evening of music and fundraising to celebrate the incredible legacy of GRAMMY winner Rosanne Cash at our 2024 Gala,” said Emily Havens, Executive Director of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. “Cash is undoubtedly one of the most profound singer/songwriters of her generation, and it was such an incredible honor to recognize her with the sixth annual Crossroads of American Music Award. We were also honored to celebrate the achievements of our L.U.C.Y. Award recipients, Susan Powell and Tiffany Lyles. We raised over $150,000 for the Museum — critical funds that will go directly to support all the important work we continue to do to help educate our young people on the importance and value of music. We want to thank our incredible sponsors for their support, and everyone who bought a ticket and joined us for this wonderful celebration.”
The 2024 GRAMMY Museum Mississippi Gala was presented by Quality Steel, with additional support provided by platinum sponsors Cannon Motors of Mississippi, Kirk Auto and Whole Cellars Package Store. The event featured a special performance by Atlanta-based dance/music ensemble Creativity Band.
The Gala also included a special menu catered by The Pantry, Inc., and a live and silent auction with items to bid on from GRAMMY-winning artists such as Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes and Rosanne Cash, and GRAMMY nominees HARDY and Kelsea Ballerini. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, Cleveland’s own Whole Cellars Package Store donated beverages for the Gala.
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. Past recipients of the Crossroads of American Music Award are GRAMMY winners the late Charley Pride and Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Rush, Marty Stuart, and Keb’ Mo’.
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.