Neshoba County native and country music legend Marty Stuart and his country music artist wife Connie Smith joined Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant in the Mississippi Senate on Thursday (February 24, 2011).

Stuart led the Senate in a stirring round of "Will the Circle be Unbroken."

"One of the most special moments ever," said Sen. Giles Ward, R-Louisville, who represents Neshoba County.

Senators and visitors in the gallery all joined in.

Stuart was in Jackson to emcee the Mississippi Arts Commission's 23rd annual Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts.

A 1999 Governor's Awards recipient himself, Stuart began playing mandolin with the Sullivan Family at age 12.