Three-time Grammy Award-nominated rock band My Morning Jacket was honored this afternoon by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation with the unveiling of their own Hometown Heroes banner. The band, which formed in Louisville in 1998 and has gone on to worldwide success, said via an Instagram post prior to the event, “We’re humbled and honored to receive the Hometown Heroes banner in the city where it all began.”
The banner, which reads “My Morning Jacket’s Louisville”, is located on the north-facing wall of the Kentucky Exposition Center’s Armory building at 937 Phillips Lane and can be seen clearly from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Expressway (I-65).
The dedication was initially put on hold due to an unexpected pop-up rainstorm. However, the presence of thunder and lightning mixed with an unrelenting downpour forced an impromptu ceremony in the cramped hallway of the Armory building on which the banner hangs.
Vocalist/guitarist and band founder Jim James, flanked by bandmates Patrick Hallahan, Tom Blankenship, and Carl Broemel (keyboardist Bo Koster did not appear to be in attendance), said to the crowd, “We all know you don’t get to choose where you come into this world, and of all the places we’ve traveled and all the things we’ve seen, I just can’t tell you how grateful I am that, for whatever reason, the universe brought me out here (to) Louisville and that I’ve been fortunate enough to meet these wonderful souls that we’ve shared this journey together. It’s just been such an incredible, magical, thrilling ride, and we’re so grateful to all of you and so grateful for all the support,” before concluding his short speech with “It’s hard to find words for it. We’re just so very moved and so very grateful. Thank you so much.
MMJ becomes the latest in a short line of Louisville music legends to receive the honor, which has previously included Jack Harlow, Lionel Hampton, Helen Humes, Bryson Tiller, Static Major (Stephen Ellis Garrett Jr.), and Nicole Scherzinger, among others. They also join the longer list of notable Louisvillians who have received Hometown Heroes banners, which includes Muhammad Ali, Diane Sawyer, Jennifer Lawrence, Paul Hornung, Pee Wee Reese, Judge Louis Brandeis, and Denny Crum.
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Per the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation, MMJ was selected to receive a Hometown Heroes banner as part of the original program before it was temporarily suspended in 2017. “We are thrilled to officially recognize this great Louisville band with this long overdue honor,” said Mike Sheehy, President and founding member of the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation. “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. It’s a fitting tribute to local talent and a reminder that Kentucky is home to world-class artistry,” said David S. Beck, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues. “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,” Sheehy added.
This is not the first hometown honor to be bestowed upon MMJ this year, as Mayor Craig Greenberg presented the band with the keys to the city at Louisville City FC’s opening game on March 22nd.
MMJ begins their Come Home Again celebration of Louisville tomorrow night with five shows over six nights at the Louisville Palace. In a bold move by the band, each show will feature a completely unique setlist exclusive to that night, with no repeat songs being played on any of the five nights.
In a recent Instagram post, the band said, “When we realized we had never done a five-night run before in our hometown, we decided that it would be great to make it one big celebration of Louisville, KY – the hometown of our hearts, without which there would be no My Morning Jacket.”
In the post, the band went on to say, “Along with all of the wonderful Louisville musicians playing the shows, we will also be highlighting some of our favorite local art, nonprofits, food and beverage joints, as well as some of our favorite unique places and nature spots around town.”
Events for MMJ’s Come Home Again celebration are as follows:
- Friday, April 25 – My Morning Jacket with special guest Lacey Guthrie at the Louisville Palace, 7:30 PM
- Friday, April 25 – Late Night Dance Party with TRILLHARMONICS: United We Dance (featuring DJs Kym Williams and DJ Always) at The Whirling Tiger, 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM – Free admission
- Saturday, April 26 – My Morning Jacket merch pop-up store at The Whirling Tiger, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM – Free admission
- Saturday, April 26 – My Morning Jacket with special guest Future Killer at the Louisville Palace, 7:30 PM
- Sunday, April 27 – My Morning Jacket with special guest The Jesse Lees at the Louisville Palace, 7:30 PM
- Tuesday, April 29 – My Morning Jacket with special guests 10th Street Dre and Maggie Halfman at the Louisville Palace, 7:30 PM
- Wednesday, April 30 – My Morning Jacket with special guest Bendigo Fletcher at the Louisville Palace, 7:30 PM
My Morning Jacket is currently on tour for their 10th studio album, Is, which was produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam) and released on March 21st of this year.
Tickets and additional information can be found on My Morning Jacket’s website: mymorningjacket.com
This article appears in Apr 11-24, 2025.