Tracy Lawrence, Wanda Jackson Lead Country Honorees

Tracy Lawrence photo courtesy of Rocky Comfort Records.

July 27, 2009 — Tracy Lawrence will become an honorary citizen of a Texas city, Neal McCoy will be inducted into a music hall of fame, and rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson will have an alley named after her.

Numerous country stars are receiving civic honors in the coming weeks and months:

• Tracy Lawrence will be named an honorary citizen of San Antonio when he plays a concert date Cowboys Far West on Aug. 14. Tracy is the first country artist recognized in that fashion by the city.

• Oklahoma City is honoring the first lady of rockabilly music by renaming an alley in the Bricktown neighborhood as Wanda Jackson Way, according to OKBiz.com. Known for such pop and/or country hits as "Fujiyama Mama," "There’s A Party Goin’ On" and "In The Middle Of A Heartache," Wanda was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. She’s not the first performer to have a Bricktown street named in her honor. She was beaten to the punch by Vince Gill, jazz musician Charlie Christian and The Flaming Lips.

• Neal McCoy is slated for induction into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage on Aug. 15. Also joining that same day are Michael Martin Murphey and Linda Davis.

• Aaron Tippin collected the DAR Founder’s Medal for Patriotism from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution earlier this month at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The award is given in "recognition of deeds, service or educational pursuits that go far beyond the obligations of an individual's employment or normal duties."

• Mount Airy, N.C., has set Oct. 29 as the date to rename a local road as Donna Fargo Highway, The Mount Airy News reported. N.C. 103 will bear her name across a 5.8-mile stretch in Surry County. Donna was one of the most successful country artists of the 1970s, earning million-selling singles with "Funny Face" and "The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A."