Arts & Entertainment
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Tops America’s Best Fried Chicken Spots
“It’s a great honor that they thought to include us,” general manager of Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in Oxford Brad Whiteside said. “It’s a huge thrill,” on coming in at the number one spot for America’s 50 best fried chicken spots.
Photo courtesy Gus’s Fried Chicken
The first generation of Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken began in the 1950s by Napoleon, also known as “Na,” and Maggie Bonner in downtown Mason, Tennessee. Little did these two know that their famous recipe would still be a huge phenomenon today. It’s said that the couple was not wealthy and the people of Mason helped them raise money to move to a bigger location in the early 70s where business too off. Gus’s original name was ran under “Maggie’s Short Orders” until their son, Vernon Bonner, re-opened the business with his wife Gertrude taking on the now acclaimed name, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken.
“Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken is honored to be named the top fried chicken spot in the U.S. Gus’s Oxford is committed to upholding this tradition by serving the very best fried chicken possible coupled with outstanding service,” Lockwood Griffin, Owner of the Oxford location, said. “In Oxford, we have recently added several new menu items including a new chicken tenders salad, a new tenders wrap along with fried okra now featured as both an appetizer and a side. We hope folks will visit us soon and give us their feedback on these additions to our menu.”
The savory spices light your tastebuds up giving you a completely different take on fried chicken. As you bite into Gus’s chicken you can taste the crisp crunchiness of the skin, then the juices and tenderness of the white meat hit your tongue and it’s game over. It definitely gives all other chicken places a run for their money.
One could almost feel like they’re sitting in Na and Maggie’s old place. Every piece of chicken is hand prepped and seasoned resulting in it’s vigorous flavors.
The golden-brown crust on the outside locks in the juicy exterior, just as it should, and the seasoning of salt and cayenne shines through. So kick back at a gingham tablecloth-covered table, listen to the tunes playing from the jukebox, and await the arrival of a meal well worth it.
Gus’s makes it easy for families to eat by offering family snacks and family meals. Their menu offers Southern fried appetizers and chicken, family and individual meals, a variety of brewskis and desserts. If fried chicken isn’t on your menu, Gus’s also offers a variety of salads.
Brittany Bugg is a HottyToddy.com staff writer and can be reached at brittany.bugg@hottytoddy.com.
Last week it was announced Grammy award-winning artist Post Malone cancelled the Oxford stop that was part of his Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2.
That concert was going to be held inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, giving the iconic venue an interesting, temporary environment.
But fans of Post Malone will have a chance to see the artist without having to travel across the country.
Post Malone will be a headlining act at the 2026 Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam in Panama City Beach. Malone will cap off the four-day music festival as main performer on Sunday, May 31.
pov: you thought you missed Post Malone… but he’s still headlining in PCB on May 31 🤠
don’t miss him at Gulf Coast Jam — grab your tickets now 🎟️#posty #cancelledshow #gulfcoastjam #pcb #panamacitybeach pic.twitter.com/6P5LX6Xfwu
— Gulf Coast Jam (@GulfCoastJam) May 5, 2026
The Country On The Coast™ festival lineup also includes headliners Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, and Riley Green, who will be joined by more than 20 artists at Frank Brown Park in beautiful Panama City Beach May 28-31, 2026. Passes are currently available at www.GulfCoastJam.com. Payment plans are available for all pass levels.
Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam drew sellout crowds of 30,000 for the past two years. Music Festival Wizard named Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam the number one festival in their
Top 50 Most Popular Fests in the World 2024 – Voter’s Choice poll and their Best Beach Music Festivals This Summer in 2025.
Post Malone, born Austin Post, is one of the most commercially successful artists of the last decade, blending hip‑hop, pop, and country influences into a style that’s made him a fixture on radio and streaming charts. He’s known for hits like Circles, Rockstar, and Sunflower, and for a touring schedule that usually packs stadiums and arenas. His shows tend to draw a wide mix of fans, which is part of why the Oxford date had been circled on the calendar for months.
Who? When?
The schedule will tell you!! Save to your phone to refer back to!
Tickets available at:https://t.co/BraelVgALX#festival #panamacitybeach #countrymusic #jimbeam #countryonthecoast pic.twitter.com/lLANeqrNsG
— Gulf Coast Jam (@GulfCoastJam) April 24, 2026
Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam 2026 Lineup
Thursday, May 28
- Keith Urban
- Jessie Murph
- Wyatt Flores
- Cooper Alan
- Walker Montgomery
- Gannon Fremin & CCREV
Friday, May 29
- Chris Stapleton
- Marcus King
- Jackson Dean
- Brent Cobb
- Cole Goodwin
- Hueston
Saturday, May 30
- Riley Green
- Koe Wetzel
- Ole 60
- Josh Ross
- Ashland Craft
- Hannah McFarland
Sunday, May 31
- Post Malone
- Muscadine Bloodline
- 49 Winchester
- Elizabeth Nichols
- Them Dirty Roses
- Skeez
Post Malone has canceled five shows on his upcoming Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2, including the Oxford stop at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Post Malone’s summer stadium run is getting pushed back, and Oxford is among the cities losing a show. The artist announced Friday that he is canceling all May dates on his Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2, citing the need for more time to finish his new music. In a handwritten message posted to Instagram, he told fans he wasn’t ready to launch the tour as scheduled and needed roughly three more weeks to complete the project.
The cancellations include stops in El Paso, Waco, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Tampa, and Oxford, where Post Malone and Jelly Roll had been scheduled to perform at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on June 5. The Oxford date was one of several college‑town shows cut from the first leg of the tour.
Ole Miss Athletics notified ticketholders Friday that refunds for the Oxford show will be processed immediately. Fans who purchased through the school’s ticket office were told to expect refunds within 14 days, covering admission, parking, fees, and VIP packages. Third‑party buyers were directed to contact their ticket sellers.
While Malone emphasized that the delay is about finishing his upcoming double album, several of the canceled shows had reportedly struggled with ticket sales, with some venues offering discounts and student promotions in recent weeks. Widespread ticket availability at multiple venues was reported by Digital Music News, which cited seating charts and pricing data showing large sections unsold in the weeks leading up to the tour.
The rescheduled tour is now set to begin June 12 in Indianapolis.
Post Malone, born Austin Post, is one of the most commercially successful artists of the last decade, blending hip‑hop, pop, and country influences into a style that’s made him a fixture on radio and streaming charts. He’s known for hits like Circles, Rockstar, and Sunflower, and for a touring schedule that usually packs stadiums and arenas. His shows tend to draw a wide mix of fans, which is part of why the Oxford date had been circled on the calendar for months.
By AJ Norwood and Justin Claas
Journalism Students
Oxford restaurants such as The Blind Pig and Proud Larry’s are looking to make their outdoor seating areas permanent. However, they have a lot of hoops to jump through with the city in order to make that happen.
The owner of Proud Larry’s, Scott Caradine, says that the city thinks these outdoor seating options are a good thing, but some remodeling needs to be done in order for this to take place.
“Their plan is to keep them year-round, but they want to make them permanent and they want them to look nice,” Scott said.
The Blind Pig is a restaurant that didn’t originally offer an outdoor seating experience. Despite this, manager David Moore says that this is something that the Blind Pig has always been interested in pursuing.
“We have been really eager to invest in our outdoor dining to make it more worthy of the Square,” Moore said.
While these restaurants are still making plans to improve their outdoor dining experience, the city officials have not made a final decision on what to do. Caradine says that this is something that he hopes they can continue in the future to satisfy their customers.
“We hope they make it permanent,” Caradine said. “We look forward to them making something permanent here so we can use it because we like it. Our customers like it.”
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G
March 27, 2015 at 8:16 pm
WORST CHICKEN EVER! and sides were inedible as well!
I will never go there again! ugh.
Anonymous
March 28, 2015 at 9:13 am
I have not tried the Oxford location, however I feel sure the recipe is consistent with the fantastic fare offered in Memphis. It is not your traditional fried chicken; the only fried chicken I have ever had with heat other than wings. The sides are a non-issue. I go for the great tasting chicken!