SHREVEPORT, La. — The Cox Family was honored with a star on the Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars on April 27, recognizing the group’s contributions to bluegrass, gospel and country music and its roots in northwest Louisiana.
The recognition is part of a series of events celebrating the group’s career. The Cox Family is scheduled to perform April 29 at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium as the opening act for Alison Krauss. The venue is historically known as the home of the Louisiana Hayride.
Founded in the early 1970s by Willard Cox in Cotton Valley, the family ensemble built a regional following with a sound blending traditional bluegrass, gospel and country. The group gained national recognition through its 1994 collaboration with Alison Krauss, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” which earned a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album.
The Cox Family also contributed to the Grammy-winning project “Amazing Grace: A Country Salute to Gospel” and received a nomination for its album “Beyond the City.” In 2000, the group expanded its audience through participation in the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which brought traditional American music to a broader market.
The group’s legacy continues through Sidney Cox and the next generation of performers, maintaining a multi-decade presence in the roots music segment with ongoing releases and performances.
Organizers said the Walk of Stars recognition reflects both the group’s commercial achievements and its role in promoting the cultural heritage of northwest Louisiana.