Fort Worth immortalizes Leon Bridges in the place where it all started
Fort Worth immortalized a native son Tuesday, unveiling a series of street sign toppers honoring music star Leon Bridges.
The signs along a section of South Calhoun Street sit just outside Niles City Sound recording studio, where Bridges recorded his debut hit album “Coming Home” in 2015.
Even before the album’s release, Bridges was getting recognition locally, both for his musical talent and “his ability to seemingly perform frequently on every stage of consequence in town,” according to a writeup from former Star-Telegram music critic Preston Jones in September 2014.
The album reached the top of the Billboard R&B music charts in July 2015, and earned Bridges a musical guest spot on Saturday Night Live in December of that year.
Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Bridges said he was humbled by the honor, saying he couldn’t have imagined being honored in this way when his career took off in 2015.
He thanked friends and family who’ve supported him during his career, and called Fort Worth a refuge filled with people who love him for who he is.
Several speakers thanked Bridges for his efforts to promote the city at an event held before the unveiling.
Fort Worth music office director Tom Martens noted Bridges’s on-stage backdrop proclaiming his Fort Worth roots, interviews mentioning Fort Worth, and his most recent album with the song “Panther City.”
“Thank you for being an ambassador for this city,” Martens said.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker referenced the last time the city honored Bridges during his sold out show at Dickies Arena in November 2024.
The city declared the day of the concert, Nov. 15, Leon Bridges day and temporarily renamed a street outside the arena in his honor.
“The feeling in that arena was palpable, because this city, we all were so proud that Leon was one of us — that he really did come home,” Parker said.
She went on to praise Bridges for his promotion of the city in interviews and during concerts, and for his work with former TCU football coach Gary Patterson to raise money for local organizations through their nonprofit The Big Good.
The group regularly raises over $1 million annually for local organizations like the Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Tarrant To and Through program.
“It’s a beautiful sunny day outside. It’s a perfect setting on a career that is only just getting started,” Parker said.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM.
.jpg)