Today, Highway 103 receives an additional designation — Donna Fargo Highway. On the eve of the dedication, Fargo talked about the special honor and reminisced about growing up in Mount Airy.

“It’s a very humbling and very sweet experience,” said Fargo of the highway dedication.

The highway is being called the “Happiest Road in the Whole USA,” reminiscent of Fargo’s hit song “The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA.”

“It’s very cool,” said the award-winning singer who remembers growing up by the road now named after her.

“Riding the bus to school every day to Flat Rock, and then driving to Mount Airy or riding with some of my classmates from Mount Airy High School,” Fargo reminisced. “And my whole family lived on that street from the Virginia line to Mount Airy ... It’s a very special highway to me.”

Fargo came back to her hometown on Tuesday. She had last visited a few months ago after being inducted into the Carolina Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.

“It’s still got that sweet, all-American charm,” Fargo said of Mount Airy.

Upon arriving this week, Fargo knew immediately where she wanted to go.

“The first place I went, before we even checked in, was O’Dell’s Sandwich Shop, and I got a hot dog. Thank God some things never change,” she said with a chuckle.

Today, in addition to the dedication of the Donna Fargo Highway, there will be a ribbon cutting for a Donna Fargo exhibit at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History. Fargo donated clothes and memorabilia for the exhibit.

On Wednesday, Fargo filmed a commercial downtown that will be used to encourage people to shop in Mount Airy for Christmas. Fargo said, “It’s just the greatest little hometown in the whole U.S.A.”

As a child growing up in Surry County, Fargo said she never envisioned having a road named after her or seeing an exhibit about her life.

“When you’re little you don’t think of that kind of stuff. You just have these big dreams inside you, but they’re not real specific. Mine were, I wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to be a singer,” Fargo explained.

After graduating from Mount Airy High School, Fargo went on to attend college in High Point. She then went west and became a high school English teacher in southern California.

“But I also carried that dream in my heart to be a singer. You know, you try to figure out how to evolve with your dreams. I think dreams are gifts to us from God, but it’s our responsibility to hold that burning desire and try to manage your life so that you can make your dreams come true, because they’re wrapped around your purpose,” she explained.

Fargo was able to fulfill both of her dreams at the same time, as she began her music career while still teaching high school students.

“‘Happiest Girl’ was already a number one record when school was ending, and kids were beginning to find out about my secret life,” she remembered.

Fargo went on to resign from teaching and fully pursue her music career. She has been awarded a Grammy, five Academy of Country Music awards, and a Country Music Association award, to name a few. Fargo continues to write music, books and greeting cards. She is working on a new CD.

“It’s been a joyful ride. It really has. And I credit my hometown for a lot of the values that find their way into my songs and my books and greeting cards. It was just a good time here growing up, and people are so nice and genuine. You know, just genuine, all-American people. And I think that made me more patriotic. It made me more concerned with family values, and my family, too. All positive experiences.”

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.