Three cousins who all went on to find musical success will be the focal point of a new exhibit coming to the Grammy Museum Mississippi.
The museum in Cleveland announced Wednesday that “The Killer, The Preacher, and The Cowboy: The Legacies of Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley” will open to the public on Jan. 22, 2026.
“Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley each carved out their own distinct place in American culture, whether through music, entertainment, or ministry,” Grammy Museum Mississippi executive director Emily Havens said. “[The museum] 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.”
Lewis, who was nicknamed “The Killer” after trying to strangle one of his teachers with a necktie when he was a child, is universally considered one of the fathers of rock and roll. The nickname went on to fit his wild stage persona – and accusations that he killed two of his wives – to a tee. Born in Ferriday, La., he later learned from blues slide guitarist Johnny Littlejohn across the river in Natchez and lived most of his adult life in DeSoto County outside of Memphis. Known for early hits like “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” he was virtually exiled from the rock world after a string of public controversies in the 1960s and found continued success in country music.
Before his passing in July 2022, Lewis compiled a dozen gold records and four Grammys, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and two Grammy Hall of Fame Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience Hall of Fame. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Museum Mississippi’s Crossroads of American Music Award, given annually to an artist who has made significant musical contributions influenced by the region’s deep roots.
“The Preacher” featured in the new exhibit is Swaggart, who was one of the most influential televangelists of the 20th century. Also born in Ferriday, Swaggart built a global broadcasting ministry that reached hundreds of millions of people. A singer as well, he was nominated for a Grammy in 1981 in the Best Traditional Gospel Performance category for his album, “Worship.” Swaggart passed away in July of this year.
Rounding out the musically gifted group of cousins is Gilley, a country singer from Natchez who became known as “The Cowboy” after being cast as himself in the movie, “Urban Cowboy.” Gilley charted on multiple occasions with hits like “Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time” and “Room Full of Roses” and won a Grammy in 1981 in the category of Best Country Instrumental Performance for his “Orange Blossom Special/Hoedown.” He’s one of the few artists to win the Academy of Country Music’s Triple Crown, landing New Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year honors. Gilley passed away in May 2022.
The incoming exhibit at the Grammy Museum Mississippi honoring the cousins is sponsored by Sun Records and Visit Mississippi. More details about a special public program to celebrate the launch will be announced soon.