Grammy Museum Mississippi has announced Trombone Shorty as this year’s recipient of the Crossroads of American Music Award, which goes out annually to an artist who has made significant musical contributions inspired by the region.
Trombone Shorty, whose real name is Troy Andrews, is a four-time Grammy nominee who notched his first gilded gramophone in 2021 with “We Are” being named album of the year. A New Orleans native, he is one of the Crescent City’s most-celebrated cultural ambassadors, blending genres like jazz, rock, pop, and hip hop to make for a contemporary sound now synonymous with his hometown.
Trombone Shorty has released six studio albums since 2010 with his latest dropping last month on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall. He teamed up with fellow Grammy nominees New Breed Brass Band for “Second Line Sunday,” an homage to the music and culture of New Orleans.
All of his on-stage work paired with a foundation that aims to advance access to music education is the reason Trombone Shorty was selected as the winner of the Crossroads of American Music Award, according to Grammy Museum Mississippi executive director Emily Havens.
“Trombone Shorty is one of the most celebrated musicians of this generation,” Havens said. “His genre-crossing talents combined with his commitment to music education through his Trombone Shorty Foundation make him beyond deserving of this year’s Crossroads of America Music Award. We can’t wait to honor this natural-born showman and undeniable start at this year’s gala.”
“For me, music has always been about carrying on traditions while pushing them forward,” Trombone Shorty said. “I grew up surrounded by the sounds of New Orleans and those influences are in every note I play. To be honored with the Crossroads Award is really about celebrating that culture, and I’m humbled to be part of that story.”
Shorty will be honored with the award during the Grammy Museum Mississippi’s 2025 Gala on Thursday, Oct. 30, which will take place at the museum in Cleveland. Tickets go on sale to museum members on Sept. 16 and then to the general public on Oct. 2.
Trombone Shorty joins six other legends to receive the Crossroads of American Music Award: Charley Pride, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Rush, Marty Stuart, Keb’ Mo’, and Rosanne Cash.
