From Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn to Lainey Wilson, the streets of Philadelphia, Mississippi, are becoming an outdoor celebration of country music's biggest names.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Published: November 2, 2026
A walk through downtown Philadelphia, Mississippi, reveals a growing collection of murals honoring some of country music’s most recognizable artists, with Lainey Wilson among the newest additions.
Her “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” mural joins tributes to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and other country music legends as part of an initiative led by Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music.
A Downtown Filled With Country Music History
Philadelphia is the hometown of Marty Stuart, whose ambitious Congress of Country Music project is helping preserve the genre's history while bringing new attention to the community that helped shape his own musical journey.
One of its most visible projects is Flowers on the Walls, a public art initiative that transforms downtown buildings into tributes to country music artists and their songs.
What began in 2023 with a mural honoring Dolly Parton's “Wildflowers” has grown into an outdoor collection featuring some of the genre's most recognizable names.
Visitors exploring downtown can discover murals celebrating Connie Smith, Loretta Lynn, Linda Ronstadt, Chris Stapleton, Ricky Skaggs, Crystal Gayle, Glen Campbell, the Statler Brothers, and others.
Each installation tells a different story, often drawing inspiration from a particular song and incorporating connections to the artists, their families, or the Philadelphia community.
For country music fans, the collection offers an opportunity to experience the genre's history outside a traditional museum setting.
Lainey Wilson's “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” Mural
Wilson's addition to the collection represents another generation of country music artists being celebrated through the project.
The mural, unveiled on October 20, 2026, was created by artist A'Darrius Hanible and takes its inspiration from Wilson's hit song, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”
Located on the west side of Queen Beauty Supply along Main Street, the artwork joins the town's growing collection of public art installations.
Wilson attended the unveiling alongside Stuart, local leaders, and fans who gathered for the occasion.
“This mural is absolutely beautiful, and I'm so grateful the warm welcome I've received here,” Wilson said. “I brought some of my Mississippi friends along for a little picking and grinning, and that's exactly what I want tonight to be about. A chance to step away from the craziness of everyday life, come together and celebrate the heart of country music. At the end of the day, country music is about storytelling, and there's nothing better than sharing those stories with good people.”
Her visit also included two special fundraising performances at Philadelphia's historic Ellis Theater, benefiting the continued development of the Congress of Country Music.
Stuart praised Wilson's willingness to support the project and the friendship that brought her to Mississippi.
“Lainey Wilson is not only a dear friend, but someone who understands the meaning of home,” Stuart said. “She knows that no matter how far life takes you or how high your dreams carry you, nothing can replace the people and places that shaped who you are.”
Stuart explained that Wilson agreed to participate in the mural unveiling and fundraising concerts without a formal contract, relying instead on their friendship and shared appreciation for their roots.
The Ellis Theater and Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music
The murals aren't the only attraction drawing country music fans to Philadelphia.
Located at 311 Byrd Avenue, the historic Ellis Theater serves as the centerpiece of Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music.
Originally opened as a silent movie theater in 1926, the Ellis Theater underwent extensive renovations before reopening in 2022. Today, the venue hosts performances by established artists and rising talent across country, Americana, blues, and roots music.
The larger Congress of Country Music project is also developing a museum dedicated to the genre's history, featuring artifacts and memorabilia from Stuart's extensive personal collection.
Although the museum is not yet open to the public, visitors can see select artifacts and rotating displays in the Ellis Theater lobby during box office hours.
For fans planning a trip, combining a downtown mural walk with a performance at the Ellis Theater offers a way to experience both country music's history and its living traditions.
Planning a Visit to Philadelphia, Mississippi
Philadelphia is located approximately 90 miles northeast of Jackson and 40 miles northwest of Meridian.
The downtown murals provide a starting point for exploring the town's country music connections, with Wilson's “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” mural among its newest attractions.
Visitors can learn more about the artwork through the Ellis Theater's official mural guide, which shares the stories behind the individual installations.
The Ellis Theater website also provides upcoming concert schedules and ticket information.
As Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music continues to develop, Philadelphia is creating new ways for visitors to connect with the artists and songs that have shaped country music.
For fans of Lainey Wilson and the legends who came before her, the town's growing mural collection offers a reason to add Philadelphia to a future Mississippi road trip.