Cyrus, Knight & Morgan headline new Riley Center season

Jun. 19—Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts has announced its lineup for the 2024-2025 season, which will include legendary soul singer Gladys Knight and country music stars Lorrie Morgan and Billy Ray Cyrus.

The Performing Arts Series lineup was announced during East Mississippi Business Development Corporation's Business After Hours Tuesday at the MSU Riley Center. The nine-concert season will kick off in August and run through May 2025.

"It's always exciting to be able to announce our season and what we have been working on and what we can expect in the coming months," said Morgan Dudley, director of conferences, events and operations at the MSU Riley Center.

"We have something for everybody. We have Grammy-nominated artists, and we have Mississippi artist Mac McAnally, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at The MAX in January," she said. "We have Postmodern Jukebox, a group that takes today's popular songs and hits and gives them a vintage style. We have the Empress of Soul, and then we have Billy Ray Cyrus, Mr. 'Achy Breaky Heart' himself."

The performance schedule for the season includes:

— Lorrie Morgan: Ruby Anniversary Tour — Thursday, Aug. 22, tickets $22-$65.

— The War and Treaty — Thursday, Sept. 19, tickets $30-$90.

— Gladys Knight — Thursday, Oct. 10, tickets $70-$125.

— Mac McAnally — Saturday, Nov. 9, tickets $25-$65.

— An Evening with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox — Thursday, Dec. 19, tickets $35-$80.

— Billy Ray Cyrus — Friday, Jan 31, tickets $75-$120.

— The You & Me Tour: An Evening with Drew and Ellie Holcomb — Saturday, Feb. 15, tickets $20-$55.

— Ann Hampton Callaway Sings The '70s — Friday, April 4, tickets $20-$40.

— Dailey & Vincent — Thursday, May 22, tickets $20-$60.

All of the shows will be held in the Riley Center's theater, formerly the Meridian Grand Opera House. Most performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the showtime for The War and Treaty and Mac McAnally both slated for 7 p.m.

"As distinctive as they are, these artists all have one thing in common: They elevate their performances into events," Terry Dale Cruse, associate vice president and head of Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus, said in a news release. "Whether blowing you away by their virtuosity or weaving an intimacy that connects directly to your heart, they create memorable evenings."

In addition to the season's lineup, rising country music star Nikki Lane will perform at the Riley Center on Thursday, Aug. 8, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for the concert range in price from $25 to $65 and are currently available at the box office.

The Performing Arts Series' season subscriptions are also available now, starting at $300 for the nine shows and going up to $665 for VIP seating. In order to keep their same seats, current season subscribers should complete their purchases by July 5, Dudley said.

Special mini-packages of three shows apiece will be available starting Monday, July 8. The Bulldog Pack, featuring The War and Treaty, Gladys Knight and Drew and Ellie Holcomb shows, range in price from $85 to $225. The Cowbell Pack, featuring the Lorrie Morgan, Mac McAnally and Billy Ray Cyrus shows, range in price from $122 to $250.

Members of the MSU Riley Center's Friends of the Lady support group can also buy tickets for individual shows starting July 8. All tickets for individual shows will go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 15.

Dudley said the MSU Riley Center booking staff is constantly looking for performers who have availability for shows while traveling with their tour, so additional shows may be added in the future.

"We are coming off a really successful season with The Commodores having an excellent show Friday night. We had multiple sell outs, so we are hoping to continue that trend," she said, adding the Wayne Newton concert on July 20 will close out the current season.

Dudley said the MSU Riley Center would not be able to bring these exciting shows to Meridian without the support of MSU, Friends of the Lady members, The Riley Foundation and The Phil Hardin Foundation.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Riley Center website at msurileycenter.com, call 601-696-2200 or visit the box office at 2200 Fifth Street in downtown Meridian.

Contact Glenda Sanders at [email protected].