Mount Olive
Mount Olive, MS · Arts & Culture
takingthekids.com
This Beloved Mississippi Zoo Has Spent 75 Years Growing From 12 Quiet Acres Into A Modern Wildlife Destination
Twelve acres does not sound like much until you start counting what fits on them. More than seventy-five animal species live here, along with rides, a splash pad, and a ropes course that was never part of the original plan. The place opened in 1950 and has been quietly improving...
WLBT
Get to know DJ Pretty Peech, the local DJ named Zaxby’s Chief Vibe Officer
PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - Peech Franklin, also known as DJ Pretty Peech, has turned her passion into a new role at Zaxby’s. She is now in charge of bringing the vibes to guests at restaurants at more than 90 Zaxby’s locations and grand openings. She gained the...
WDAM-TV
Get to know DJ Pretty Peech, the local DJ named Zaxby’s Chief Vibe Officer
PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - Peech Franklin, also known as DJ Pretty Peech, has turned her passion into a new role at Zaxby’s. She is now in charge of bringing the vibes to guests at restaurants at more than 90 Zaxby’s locations and grand openings. She gained the...
Hattiesburg American
Member of Poplarville's Chapel Hart posts tribute honoring late Dolly Parton
Danica Hart , who was one-third of the Poplarville country band formerly known as Chapel Hart , took to Instagram to honor country music icon Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Parton was 80 years old. Hart's post featured a picture of her posing with Parton, who sang several popular songs including "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You." In 2021, Chapel Hart released a song titled "You Can Have Him Jolene," that was inspired by Parton's1973 hit song "Jolene." The trio performed the song during an audition for "America's Got Talent" in 2022. Parton saw the performance and penned a response to the song on her social media. "What a fun new take on my song, @chapelhartband! Carl's birthday is today so I think I'll hang on to him, and I'm not notifying Jolene that today is his birthday." View this post on Instagram Carl Dean was Parton's husband. He died in 2025 at age 82. "You Can Have Him Jolene" debuted at No. 8 in the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart, peaking at No. 4. Chapel Hart formed in 2014 in Poplarville, 40 miles south of Hattiesburg. The trio performed together until 2025,
WJTV 12
Experience K-POP Warriors Live Show at Saenger Theater
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – The K-POP Warriors Live Show will transform the Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater into a futuristic world of music, dance and visual effects. Taconhy Entertainment’s touring production is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. on September 20, 2026. The performance combines K-pop music with live choreography, theatrical narration, percussion, digital visuals and […]
WJTV 12
Acrobatic horror show ‘Fear Circus’ coming to Hattiesburg
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – The Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater will host a terrifying, acrobatic and thrilling theatrical evening. Taconhy Production House’s horror show Fear Circus will begin on September 20, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. The 13+ production features aerial performances, contortion, twisted clowns and immersive terror. The audience will see the action as performers move […]
WJTV 12
Charity golf tournament benefits Hattiesburg students
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – A charity golf tournament in the Pine Belt turned a day-course into an investment for local students. The Inaugural Pinebelt Open brought golfers to Canebrake Country Club on August 24, 2026, to raise money for the Pinebelt Foundation Ampact Program. The program provides reading and math tutors for elementary students in […]
WDAM-TV
Columbia’s 5th annual Food & Music Fest to feature Branson-style ‘Dukes of Country’ show
COLUMBIA, Miss. (WDAM) - The folks with Main Street Columbia are expecting thousands of people to visit downtown Columbia during an annual event showcasing good food and great live entertainment. The upcoming 5th annual Food & Music Festival, on Sept. 12, will have a dozen food trucks and more than...
WDAM-TV
Midtown Merchants Association hosts 6th annual Midtown Sounds
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - The Midtown Merchants Association invited the community out for the sixth annual Midtown Sounds event. This year’s outing featured performances from Pine Belt artists on the newly built Craig Wiseman Stage. Various vendors and organizations were also present. Midtown Merchants also collaborated with Southern Miss...
WDAM-TV
Local AGT contestant, Elsie, visits Long Leaf Elementary School
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - Students at Long Leaf Elementary School in Hattiesburg are heading into their weekend all smiles after a special performance from a local singer. Elsie is a Columbia native and is currently a contestant on this season of America’s Got Talent. She held a Friday morning...
WDAM-TV
Midtown Sounds returns for 6th annual event at Midtown Green
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - The Midtown Merchants Association is bringing Midtown Sounds back to Hattiesburg this weekend for its sixth annual community concert, with live music, food vendors and local businesses at a new location. The Midtown Merchants Association will host Midtown Sounds 2026 on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 4...
WJTV 12
Employee becomes Zaxby's first chief vibe officer after viral video
Yahoo!
John Denver Christmas tribute coming to Hattiesburg
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) - Emery Entertainment will present Rocky Mountain High Experience, A John Denver Christmas starring Rick Schuler at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater on December 11, 2026. Tickets are $53-$63 plus applicable fees and will go on sale August 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets may be purchased at...
WLBT
Viral video lands cook at Mississippi Zaxby’s new role as franchisee’s first Chief Vibe Officer
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WLBT) - A Zaxby’s cook in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is turning her passion for bringing people together into a brand-new role. Roost & Rise Holdings, the largest Zaxby’s franchisee across the Southeast, has appointed Peech Franklin — known locally as “DJ Pretty Peech” — as its new Chief Vibe Officer.
WLOX
Saucier Senior Center celebrates 250 years of America
SAUCIER, Miss. (WLOX) — The Saucier Senior Center hosted a celebration Friday marking 250 years of American independence, drawing seniors from across the Gulf Coast. The event was originally scheduled for July 2 but was postponed after flooding from Arthur forced organizers to push back the date. Attendees traveled from as far as Perkingston and D’Iberville to take part.
WLBT
‘Toxic Beauty;’ Mississippi Aquarium exhibit makes masterpieces out of pollutants
GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) — The Mississippi Aquarium is displaying an exhibit made entirely from plastic trash collected on Gulf Coast beaches, including Mardi Gras beads transformed into sculptures of sea turtles. The exhibit, titled Toxic Beauty, Plastic’s Hidden Cost, was organized in part by Dr. Kristina Mojica of the...
ourmshome.com
Southern Miss Alumna Keisha Green Earns Southeast Emmy Award
For Keisha Green, earning a Southeast Emmy Award is more than a career milestone. It is a reminder of the journey that began at The University of Southern Mississippi and the experiences that helped shape her career in television. Green earned a bachelor’s degree in the School of Media and...
WDAM
Hattiesburg Zoo gives visitors inside look at the work of the zookeepers