If you tune in to the upcoming Rose Parade, don’t be surprised to see Mississippi shining on one of the largest New Year’s Day stages.
As is becoming customary, tourism officials in Mississippi have made it their mission to broadcast what makes the Magnolia State so special, so that outsiders can understand the appeal while locals boast about a place known for many incredible accomplishments. During the 2025 Rose Parade, Mississippi’s first to participate in, the state paid tribute to the likes of Elvis Presley and B.B. King through its “Birthplace of America’s Music” float. The spectacle earned the Past President Award in the process. This coming new year, the state’s excellence in visual, literary, musical, and cinematic arts will be showcased through its “Where Creativity Blooms” float.
A place known for its wide variety of entertainers, Mississippi boasts being the home of film star Morgan Freeman, storied author William Faulkner, trailblazing soprano soloist Leontyne Price, revered painter Walter Anderson, popular puppeteer Jim Henson, and the list goes on and on. With such a rich history in the arts, multiple museums and cultural centers throughout the state tell the stories of these giants and many others like them. So naturally, those tasked with designing the float knew exactly what to highlight.
“We really were trying to think of something that’s visually appealing that really speaks to what somebody could come and see and do in Mississippi,” Visit Mississippi executive director Rochelle Hicks said. “We thought, ‘We’re so known for all of our creative arts that we have in our state. We’re rich with creativity, so why not focus on that?'”
The float’s main character will be none other than the state’s most iconic fictional character — Kermit the Frog. Kermit, of course, was the product of Henson’s imagination and the frontman of The Muppets, a musical ensemble made up of puppets that have starred in television shows, films, and other platforms, entertaining generations of people. And of course, Kermit the Frog and many of his fellow Muppets were originally dreamed up in Leland.
With such a generational and worldwide reach, Hicks and company thought it would be quite fitting to have Kermit as the focal point. But before having the character’s likeness replicated, a call had to be made to entertainment giant Disney, which owns The Muppets franchise.
“We just started scheming and dreaming and thinking like, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we were able to have Kermit?’ So, we asked Disney for permission, and they were gracious enough to allow us to use Kermit’s likeness on the float,” Hicks explained. “One of the most iconic scenes of Kermit is when he’s strumming the banjo, so that’s what we decided to do. He’s going to be strumming the banjo.”
Joining the banjo-strumming Kermit will be Grenada native and country music star Charlie Worsham, who will perform live on the float. Worsham will be standing on a stage decorated with a Walter Anderson mural. Other aspects of the float will include a sign symbolically pointing people toward places like the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience in Meridian, the Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, and the Mississippi Writers Trail. A stack of books atop will include covers from works by Mississippi authors like Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Willie Morris, Tennessee Williams, Richard Wright, and Jesmyn Ward.
The 137th Rose Parade will be held Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, at 10 a.m. CT and run until noon in Pasadena, Calif. It will air nationally on ABC.