The MAX Inducts Five New Hall of Fame Honorees

In Meridian, the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience honored five Mississippians who impacted the world of entertainment greatly, inducting them into the MAX Hall of Fame.

On Thursday, September 3, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Margaret Walker and Tammy Wynette were inducted into the MAX Hall of Fame. Following the induction ceremony, stars displaying their names were unveiled in front of the MAX, on the MAX Walk of Fame. At the induction ceremony in the MSU Riley Center, there were performances by Linda Gail Lewis, sister of Honoree Jerry Lee Lewis, blues singer Zakiya Hooker, daughter of John Lee Hooker, musical members of Diddley’s family, and Georgette Jones, daughter of inductee Tammy Wynette.

“It felt wonderful, not only was its good for me, I’m hoping that –apparently it was good for other people, because they commented on it. You know, I had to become selfish, it was so good for me to be able to perform. We haven’t been able to do a live performance with real musicians –and then when I did it – to actually be doing my dad’s music,” said Zakiya Hooker, daughter of John Lee Hooker.

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, the induction took place at a private ceremony on the stage of the MSU Riley Center’s Historic Theater. For more information on five newly inducted members of the MAX Hall of Fame, head to https://www.msarts.org/explore/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-honorees/.