Several country stars — including Jo Dee Messina, Marty Stuart and Charley Pride — locked arms with politicians this week for a variety of projects.

There were troops to aid, public projects to endorse and a little entertainment to be delivered, too.

The week’s efforts included:

• Marty Stuart appeared Thursday at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., to lend support for the creation of a Country Music Trail in Mississippi. The state already has a Blues Trail that marks some of the important locations for its blues icons. Among the country-related acts with ties to Mississippi are Faith Hill, Elvis Presley, Marty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, LeAnn Rimes and the Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers. "It’s country music’s time," Marty said, according to The Jackson Clarion Ledger. "The world is waiting to come see us in Mississippi."