GRAMMY MUSEUM® MISSISSIPPI TO DEBUT NEW EXHIBIT EXPLORING THE REMARKABLE LEGACIES OF JERRY LEE LEWIS, JIMMY SWAGGART AND MICKEY GILLEY
The Killer, The Preacher and The Cowboy To Open on January 22
Download High-Resolution Artwork HERE
CLEVELAND, Miss. (Dec. 11, 2025) – GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi is thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of a groundbreaking new exhibit this winter spotlighting three entertainment icons (who also happened to be cousins) from Ferriday, Louisiana and Natchez, Mississippi: Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley. Titled The Killer, The Preacher and the Cowboy: The Legacies of Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley, the exhibit will officially open to the public on Thursday, Jan. 22. The exhibit is sponsored by Sun Records and Visit Mississippi and is co-curated by Deana McCloud, Zach Farnum, and Jack McWilliams.
Born within a year of each other, the three cousins used their natural musical talents and charisma to find their own paths to success, inspiring millions in the process and leaving indelible marks on American music, culture and society:
- “The Killer” – GRAMMY® winner Jerry Lee Lewis redefined rock and roll with his electrifying piano style, fiery performances and fearless personality. His genre-crossing style of playing as if he was possessed by the music inside him and his natural showmanship attracted a broad scope of fans and inspired a host of artists who have attempted to follow in his footsteps.
- “The Preacher” – One of the most influential televangelists of the 20th century, GRAMMY nominee Jimmy Swaggart built a global broadcasting ministry, reaching hundreds of millions with his message, and shifting the perspective of modern religion and its ability to reach new believers.
- “The Cowboy” – Mickey Gilley, was a GRAMMY-winning, chart-topping, country singer and entrepreneur, whose name became synonymous with honky-tonk hits and Gilley’s, the Texas hotspot that helped spark the urban cowboy craze. During his impressive career, he was one of a small list of artists to win the ACM Triple Crown Award, solidifying his place in music history.
“Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley each carved out their own distinct place in American culture, whether through music, entertainment or ministry,” said Emily Havens, Executive Director of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. “GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is proud to bring to light the stories of these three remarkable cousins from Ferriday and Natchez. Though all three of these legends have since passed on, they continue to have a lasting impact on generations of fans and followers.”
The exhibit will officially open to the public on Thursday, Jan. 22. The museum will be announcing details soon about a special public program to celebrate the launch. Additional events will take place throughout the year to deepen the story and showcase the lasting influence of these three cousins.
Sponsors of the exhibit include Visit Mississippi and Sun Records with additional support to be announced soon.
About Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana. With his innovative and flamboyant piano playing style, Lewis emerged as one of rock’s early showmen in the 1950s. He signed with Sun Records in 1956 and quickly became a star, releasing his first single — a cover of Ray Price’s “Crazy Arms” — that same year. The following year, Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” became a hit on the pop, country and R&B charts. By this time, Lewis had also developed some of his famous stage antics, such as playing standing up and even lighting the occasional piano on fire. He had such energy and enthusiasm in his performances that he earned the nickname “The Killer” for the way he knocked out his audiences. Lewis was on a roll with his next single, “Great Balls of Fire,” which was another big hit in December 1957. The following March, Lewis struck again with “Breathless,” which made the Top 10 on the pop charts. He was among the first artists inducted into the inaugural Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class in 1986. Lewis earned three career GRAMMY nominations, winning Best Spoken Word Or Non-Musical Recording for Interviews From The Class Of ’55 Recording Sessions at the 29th Annual GRAMMY Awards® in 1987. In 2005, the Recording Academy honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Jerry Lee Lewis died on Oct. 28, 2022, at age 87.
About Jimmy Swaggart
The Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, born in 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ on television longer than any other American evangelist. Launching his full-time ministry in 1955, Swaggart combined his passionate preaching with a deep musical gift, becoming one of gospel music’s best-selling artists with more than 17 million recordings sold and multiple Dove Award nominations and a GRAMMY nomination. His ministry grew from local revivals to a global platform through radio, television, and eventually the SonLife Broadcasting Network, which today reaches audiences around the world. Beyond his media presence, Swaggart’s crusades, publications, and Bible distribution programs have influenced millions, cementing his legacy as one of the most recognized religious figures of the 20th century. Jimmy Swaggart died on July 1, 2025 at age 90.
About Mickey Gilley
Mickey Gilley was born in Natchez, Mississippi, and raised in Ferriday, Louisiana alongside his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart. Inspired by the rhythm and blues he heard growing up, Gilley began recording in the late 1950s. Between 1968 and 1989, Gilley charted 46 singles on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, including 34 that reached the Top 10 and 17 that went to No. 1. During the same period, he placed 27 albums on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, with 10 landing in the Top 10. Two of those albums — Room Full of Roses (1974) and City Lights (1975) — hit No. 1. In 1971, he co-founded the world-famous Gilley’s nightclub in Pasadena, Texas, which became the largest honky-tonk in the world and a launchpad for the urban cowboy craze following the 1979 Esquire article and 1980 film starring John Travolta and Debra Winger. The Urban Cowboy soundtrack, featuring Gilley’s platinum version of “Stand By Me,” cemented his place as a household name. Over his career, Gilley earned a GRAMMY Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and performed for several U.S. presidents. Later, he built his own theater in Branson, Missouri, where he continued to entertain fans for decades despite setbacks, including a serious injury in 2009. Beloved by country fans worldwide, Mickey Gilley remained a resilient performer and cultural icon until his passing in 2022 at age 86.
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.
###
