LITTLE ROCK — Cotton Plant native Sister Rosetta Tharpe has been honored by Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge as part of America250.
Rutledge has created a “250 Reasons to Love Arkansas” list that will be announced through the rest of the year.
Tharpe, who was born in Cotton Plant in Woodruff County, came in at number eight on the list.
Rutledge said Tharpe was known as “The Godmother of Rock & Roll” for her fiery guitar riffs and gospel power that inspired everyone from Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, shaping the sound of rock for generations.
Others recognized as “250 Reasons to Love Arkansas” so far include Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Rutledge as the first female governor and lieutenant governor in the state, Arkansas native Johnny Cash, the Little Rock Nine, the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro and Hot Springs National Park.
