LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville-grown band My Morning Jacket was given a "long overdue honor" by the city with their own Hometown Hero banner.
The banner was dedicated during a ceremony Thursday afternoon. It hangs on the north-facing wall of the Kentucky Expo Center's Armory building on Phillips Lane.
"Recognized with the Governor's Award in 2014, the band is known around the globe and have remained steadfast ambassadors for Louisville and the state of Kentucky," Mike Sheehy, president and founding member of the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation, said in a news release.
The three-time Grammy Award-nominated band was chosen for a banner in 2017 as part of the original Hometown Heroes program before it was temporarily suspended.
"It's been such an incredible, magical, thrilling ride and we're so grateful for all of you and for all the support," Jim James, guitarist and vocalist for the band, said during Thursday's ceremony.
The dedication of the banner comes on the heels of the release of their 10th studio album, "is," and as the band gears up for a series of hometown concerts.
Their 5-night residency at the Louisville Palace starts Friday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. The first three performances are listed as "sold out," however Live Nation showed some tickets still available for those shows as of Thursday evening.
Tickets are still available for the April 29 and April 30 performances. Those can be purchased by clicking here.
Various openers are joining the band for the performances. April 29 includes guests 10th Street Dre and Maggie Halfman. The April 30 show will welcome Bendigo Fletcher as the guest.
My Morning Jacket was formed in Louisville in 1998 and has continued to honor their hometown on the national stage for 25 years. They have also supported several local nonprofits, including Young Authors Greenhouse, Apron Inc., Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, and CASA of the River Region.
They've also worked with Jefferson County Public Schools. In November 2023, James worked with students from Olmsted Academy South to write their own songs during a 6-week program.
"My Morning Jacket has carried Louisville's name to stages around the world, and now their Hometown Heroes banner proudly greets millions of guests at the Kentucky Exposition Center," David S. Beck, president and CEO of Kentucky Venues, said in a news release. "It's a fitting tribute to local talent and a reminder that Kentucky is home to world-class artistry."
The Hometown Heroes program was temporarily suspended in 2017, but was resurrected in June 2022, on its 20th anniversary, by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation. The banners honor the city's famous sons and daughters, with a goal of building city pride within the community. Honorees include Muhammad Ali, Jennifer Lawrence, Diane Sawyer and Jack Harlow.
To learn more about the program, nominate someone, or look at the banners, click here.
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