EVENING WILL FEATURE A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE BY SHENANDOAH WITH McANALLY
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CLEVELAND, Miss. (Sept. 30, 2026) — The GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi’s 2026 Gala will honor longtime friends, collaborators, and Mississippi natives Mac McAnally and the late Jimmy Buffett, each with the coveted Crossroads of American Music Award in Cleveland, Miss., on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m.
Representing the GRAMMY® Award-winning group Shenandoah for the evening, founding members Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire will join McAnally for a special acoustic performance. McAnally co-penned their massive No. 1 song “Two Dozen Roses,” and has been a longtime friend of the band, with connective ties to Muscle Shoals, Ala.
The sold-out event will feature a reception, seated dinner, live music, and both a silent and live auction. One of the annual highlights of the night is the presentation of the 2026 L.U.C.Y. Award, which honors a K-12 educator from the state of Mississippi who embodies the educational mission of Grammy Museum Mississippi.
Both natives of Mississippi — Jimmy Buffett, born in Pascagoula, and Mac McAnally, raised in Belmont — the two musicians first met after Buffett had gotten a copy of McAnally’s self-titled 1977 album. Buffett followed up by writing him a note that said, “We’re both from Mississippi. We’re both storytellers. We’re going to be friends.” That note blossomed into a decades-long working relationship and friendship during which McAnally wrote or co-wrote, as well as produced, several songs with Buffett, including “It’s My Job,” “Coast of Carolina,” and “Oysters and Pearls,” among others. Though he’d been collaborating closely with Buffett as a songwriter and in the studio since the early 1980s, he officially joined Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band as a touring member in 1993. All in all, Buffett and McAnally’s professional relationship spanned over four decades of recording, songwriting, and touring.
“It is a tremendous honor to dedicate our 2026 Gala to celebrating two of Mississippi’s most beloved musicians, Jimmy Buffett and Mac McAnally, whose friendship and creative partnership spanned more than four decades,” said Emily Havens, Executive Director of Grammy Museum Mississippi. “Their story is such a special part of Mississippi’s musical legacy, and we’re excited to celebrate not only their extraordinary contributions to American music, but also the friendship behind so much of the music they made together. Having Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire of Shenandoah join us for a special performance honoring Jimmy and Mac will make the evening even more meaningful, and we can’t wait to share this celebration with our guests.”
“Mac is the most talented musician, singer, and songwriter I have ever known. We’re honored to celebrate him, and congratulations to a great friend!” said Marty Raybon from Shenandoah.
Established by the Museum’s Board of Directors, the Crossroads of American Music Award honors artists whose extraordinary contributions to music reflect the creativity and cultural legacy born in the cradle of American music. Previous recipients include Grammy winners Bobby Rush, the late Charley Pride, Jerry Lee Lewis, Keb’ Mo’, Marty Stuart, Rosanne Cash, and Trombone Shorty. 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 programs, which seek to use music as a gateway to learning by inspiring and cultivating creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression.
About Mac McAnally
GRAMMY-nominated, Mac McAnally’s journey is one of divine providence and musical mastery. With an astonishing 10x Country Music Association Musician of the Year awards and a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall, the Mississippi Musicians Hall and the Alabama Music Hall of Fames, McAnally’s contributions to the world of music are nearly unparalleled.
Born into a family of gospel musicians in a dry county, McAnally’s early years were steeped in the rich traditions of Southern music, sacred and secular. Those humble beginnings paved the way for a career marked by extraordinary talent, deep humility, and unwavering dedication. As a songwriter, McAnally has penned chart-topping hits for Alabama, Kenny Chesney, and Jimmy Buffett, while his musical abilities have enriched albums by Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Toby Keith, Dolly Parton, Keith Whitley, and George Strait. He’s also released 17 studio albums, including his most recent, Once In A Lifetime. Despite the numerous accolades and collaborations with music royalty, McAnally remains grounded in his love for the art itself. For the soft-spoken creative force, music is not a career, but a calling—a testament to the joy of melody and the power of storytelling. With each note he plays and every lyric he writes, McAnally continues to inspire and uplift people around the world, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of American music.
He was recently awarded the 2025 Academy of Country Music Poet’s Award and is currently featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s “Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising” exhibit. McAnally continues to perform with Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, which he joined in 1993, and is currently touring the nation on his own headlining All The Way Around tour as well as with Scotty Emerick and Eric Darken for select Margaritas & Memories performances. For more information, visit MacMcAnally.com.
About Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett, the legendary singer-songwriter known as the “King of Gulf & Western,” spent more than five decades captivating audiences with songs inspired by his lifelong love of travel, adventure, and the road less traveled. His signature blend of storytelling, humor, and laid-back tropical escapism created a devoted following of fans known as Parrot Heads and inspired a global Margaritaville lifestyle brand. Throughout his remarkable career, Buffett released 32 studio albums, authored three New York Times #1 bestsellers, and earned induction into the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His iconic anthem “Margaritaville” was inducted into both the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023, but his music, adventurous spirit, and philanthropic legacy continue to inspire generations of fans.
About Shenandoah
With a legacy spanning decades, Shenandoah remains one of country music’s most enduring and influential bands. Known for their rich harmonies and heartfelt storytelling, the Grammy, CMA, and ACM Award-winning group has delivered timeless hits like “Two Dozen Roses,” “Church on Cumberland Road,” “Next to You, Next to Me,” “Sunday in the South,” “I Want to Be Loved Like That,” and “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart.” A platinum-selling powerhouse with over a billion career streams, Shenandoah’s music continues to resonate across generations. Their recent collaborations have reignited fan excitement. “Two Dozen Roses” featuring Luke Combs and “Sunday in the South” featuring Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan both soared to #1 on the iTunes All-Genre Chart, proving the band’s influence is as strong as ever. With a sound that helped define the golden era of ‘90s country and a presence that still commands today’s stages and charts, Shenandoah remains a pillar of American country music.
About GRAMMY Museum Mississippi
Developed by the Cleveland Music Foundation—a nonprofit organization founded in 2011—the 28,000-square-foot GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is housed near the campus of Delta State University, home of the Delta Music Institute’s Entertainment Industry Studies program, which features the most unique audio recording facilities in the South. Affiliated with the GRAMMY Museum Foundation™, GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is dedicated to exploring the past, present, and future of music, and the cultural context from which it emerges, while casting a focused spotlight on the deep musical roots of Mississippi. The Museum features a dynamic combination of public events, educational programming, engaging multimedia presentations, and interactive permanent and traveling exhibits, including a Mississippi-centric area that introduces visitors to the impact of Mississippi’s songwriters, producers, and musicians on the traditional and modern music landscape. For more information, visit grammymuseumms.org.
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