Congress of Country Music

10/08/2026

Marty Stuart nicknamed Pops Staples “Moses” because whenever life got heavy or a big decision had to be made, Pops was one of the first people he called.

It didn’t take long for Pops, Mavis, and the rest of The Staple Singers to feel like family to Marty.

🎟️ On October 15, we get to welcome Mavis Staples to The Ellis Theater! There’s still time to secure your seat and get the full Ellis experience: https://ellistheater.org/event/mavis-staples-2026-summer-series/

10/04/2026

On this day in 1971, Dolly Parton released one of country music’s most beloved albums, “Coat of Many Colors.”

Inspired by Dolly’s own childhood, its title track remains a beautiful example of the stories at the heart of country music.

Dolly believed deeply in preserving those stories and was a special friend and supporter of the Congress of Country Music. This year, we hold her music a little closer and remain grateful for her role in helping us carry country music forward.

Help us continue the work Dolly believed in: https://www.congressofcountrymusic.org/give/

10/03/2026

The queen is coming to town!

Marty Stuart joined Next Stop Mississippi to talk about the legendary Mavis Staples and her upcoming performance at the Ellis Theater. We can’t wait to welcome her to Philadelphia, Mississippi, on October 15!

Secure your seats while tickets are still available and join us for a special night at the Ellis Theater! https://ellistheater.org/event/mavis-staples-2026-summer-series/

10/01/2026

Congratulations to our contest winner, whose photo received the most likes!🎉

Thank you to everyone who shared a photo and told us what country music means to you. We loved seeing the memories, stories and personal connections behind each submission, and we’re grateful to everyone who took the time to be part of this.

Our winner will receive two tickets to Lainey Wilson’s 5:30 p.m. October 20 benefit performance at The Ellis Theater, along with two meet-and-greet passes with Marty Stuart and special guest access to the Lainey Wilson mural unveiling.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the stories that make country music so meaningful. ❤️

"When I was 15, I won my first singing competition at the Jimmie Rodgers Festival with an original song I had written. I still remember how freeing it felt to share stories through lyrics and have people connect with something I created.

Writing country music was my way of bringing storytelling to life, and it brought me so much joy.

This picture is of me singing on the stage of our historic Ellis Theatre during one of the last live country music shows there before the Ellis was remodeled and restored to become the Congress of Country Music. I had no idea then just how much life would change.

Since this picture was taken, I’ve become a teacher, a wife, and a mama. I don’t spend nearly as much time behind a microphone anymore, but I still get to share my love of music and storytelling, just in different ways.

That’s what country music has always been to me. It’s storytelling. It’s taking real life—the good, the hard, the funny, the heartbreaking—and turning it into something someone else can feel too.

I think that 15-year-old girl singing her own songs would be pretty proud to know that all these years later, I’m still finding ways to tell stories and help others tell theirs. ❤

The stage may look a little different these days, but the love for the stories and the music never left."

10/01/2026

October is Country Music Month! 🎻 🎼

All month long, we’re celebrating the songs, stories, artists, and traditions that have shaped country music and continue to carry it forward.

🪕 🎸Here’s to keeping the music alive for generations to come. Help us carry it forward by supporting the Congress of Country Music: https://www.congressofcountrymusic.org/give/

09/30/2026

Help us wish a very happy birthday to the one and only Marty Stuart! 🎂

From the stage to the archives and everything in between, Marty has dedicated his life to celebrating, preserving, and sharing the music he loves. His passion for country music and its stories is at the heart of the Congress of Country Music and the legacy we’re working to carry forward.

Happy Birthday, Marty! Here’s to another year of keeping the music alive. 🔥

09/30/2026

The Ellis Theater 2026-2027 Winter Series lineup is HERE!

From country and Americana to blues and rock, there’s a lot to look forward to as we celebrate 100 years of the Ellis.

Tickets go on sale October 2! Check out the full details and get ready to grab your seats.
https://www.congressofcountrymusic.org/marty-stuarts-congress-of-country-music-unveils-new-winter-season-lineup-at-the-ellis-theater/

09/28/2026

⏰ LAST CHANCE TO VOTE!

Voting in our country music photo contest ends September 30, and there’s still time to help your favorite photo win!

Find your favorite entry and like the photo to cast your vote. The photo with the most likes will win!

Don’t wait until the last minute. Vote for your favorite before September 30! 📸

09/22/2026

“Three tie-dye dresses that looked like cosmic angels.”

Marty Stuart shares the story behind preserving pieces from the Staple Singers and why they mean so much to him.

See Mavis Staples live at The Ellis Theater on October 15 and experience a piece of that legacy for yourself. Get your tickets today: https://ellistheater.org/event/mavis-staples-2026-summer-series/

09/18/2026

"Those are not just Mississippi and country music treasures. Those are national treasures," says Marty Stuart.

Can you guess who these treasures belonged to? Let's just say he is a national treasure himself. (Yes, it's Charlie Pride)

Help us preserve the stories that deserve to be told. Learn more: https://www.congressofcountrymusic.org/give/