Pictured (L-R): MAX President/CEO Mark Tullos, MAX Board of Directors Chair Ann Alexander, Linda Gail Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis III and Hall of Fame/Walk of Fame Consultant Marty Gamblin. Photo: Ron Blaylock Photography

Thursday evening (Sept. 3), Jerry Lee Lewis was one of five legends inducted into The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) Hall of Fame. Although Lewis was unable to attend the ceremony hosted by Marty Stuart, Jerry Lee Lewis III accepted the award on his behalf with his father’s sister, Linda Gail Lewis, who performed her brother’s major hits “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin.’”

The 2020 Hall of Fame inductees include the late Country Music Hall of Fame member Tammy Wynette, singer/songwriter Bo Diddley, poet and writer Margaret Walker (Alexander) and bluesman John Lee Hooker. The Hall of Fame consists of influential men and women that have had an impact on arts and entertainment and count their roots in Mississippi. Previous inductees include Jimmy Buffett, Charley Pride, William Faulkner, Morgan Freeman, John Grisham, Elvis Presley and Oprah Winfrey among many others.

The nomination process consists of a nationwide committee of various arts and entertainment experts who nominate artists and entertainers from various art forms including music, writing, cultural arts, performing arts and visual arts. In order to be considered as a nominee, they must have a connection to the State of Mississippi. A panel of electors and fans then vote on which nominees should be inducted into The MAX Hall of Fame.

This is the third class of inductees into The MAX Hall of Fame.

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