News : Bobby Rush Boulevard Unveiled in Blues Great’s Hometown

Associated Press January 20, 2022
image

Mississippi’s capital is renaming one of its major streets for a Grammy-winning blues singer who lives in the city. The Jackson City Council voted Tuesday to rename Ellis Avenue to Bobby Rush Boulevard, WLBT-TV reported. The north-south corridor provides a direct route from Interstate 20 to the Jackson Zoo.

The name change takes effect in a month. Rush has won two Grammy Awards for best traditional blues album — one in 2016 and one in 2020.

Rush is a Louisiana native and lived in Arkansas and Chicago before moving to Jackson in the 1980s. A Mississippi Blues Trail marker says Rush is known for a “folk funk” style. He spoke to the Jackson City Council in April when a member first proposed renaming the street for him. He said he and his family faced racism in the Jim Crow South.

“I remember three white guys, two riding a horse and one guy leading a horse, when my daddy was getting hay out of a barn as a Black man. They asked my mom, ’What are you doing with this n-word?’” Rush said. He said his mother replied that she is also Black.

“She had to go into the store and prove she was a Black woman to save my daddy’s life,” Rush said.

RELATED ARTICLES

KATSEYE Gets Emotional Recalling Meeting Ariana Grande and Tyler, The Creator

The girl group also revealed their dream collaborators.

May 08, 2026 0 comment

Ash Celebrate 30 Years Of ‘1977’ With New Reissue And Tour Dates

They are also holding a special livestreamed concert later tonight (May 6)

May 06, 2026 0 comment

Cardi B Sparks Mixed Reactions In Puffy Marc Jacobs Outfit At The Met Gala

Cardi B wore a giant Marc Jacobs gown with puffy, exaggerated proportions to the 2026 Met Gala and revealed she was battling a fever.

May 05, 2026 0 comment

Download Festival 2026 Announces Full Set Times Across All Stages

It’ll see headline sets from Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park

April 30, 2026 0 comment

Cleetis Mack From Digital Underground Passes Away

Cleetis Mack joined up with Digital Underground six years after Shock G, Chopmaster J, and Kenny-K founded the group.

April 29, 2026 0 comment

Megan Thee Stallion seen in tears at “Moulin Rouge!” after Klay Thompson split

Hours before the performance, the rapper alleged that the Dallas Mavericks player had cheated on her.

April 27, 2026 0 comment

Neil Young’s new album features three songs he wrote 63 years ago

He also confirmed that the record is complete and "ready to go"

April 24, 2026 0 comment

Leave a comment