Mardi Gras season is in full swing in Mobile, and this year’s celebrations have brought an unexpected splash of national attention along with the usual parade routes, parties and confetti.
CNN anchor and “60 Minutes” correspondent Anderson Cooper spent time in Mobile last weekend, and word of his visit spread quickly through the city as residents spotted him at some of downtown’s most familiar gathering spots. Cooper was reportedly in town gathering material for an upcoming “60 Minutes” segment focused on the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in the United States, which was discovered in the Mobile River in 2019.
According to multiple sightings around the city, Cooper stayed at the historic Battle House hotel downtown, watched the Conde Cavaliers parade roll and sampled dishes at local restaurants Dumbwaiter and Southern National. He also traveled to the Spirit of Our Ancestors Festival in Africatown, the community founded by Clotilda survivors after emancipation, and sat down for an interview with Mobile’s mayor as part of his reporting.
Cooper also visited the History Museum of Mobile, where the film crew went behind the scenes with researchers connected to the Clotilda discovery. In a social media post following the visit, the museum said it was honored to host Cooper and the “60 Minutes” team alongside Jim Delgado of Search Inc., the lead maritime archaeologist who helped verify the wreck, and Alabama Historical Commission state archaeologist Stacye Hathorn. The museum noted that the pair discussed the scientific work that confirmed the ship’s identity and reflected on the significance of the find for Africatown’s history and its descendant community.
The Clotilda’s rediscovery has drawn sustained international interest since divers and researchers confirmed its identity, and Africatown has become a focal point for conversations about the transatlantic slave trade’s lasting imprint on the Gulf Coast. A national television feature is expected to bring renewed attention to the neighborhood’s preservation efforts and its push for historical recognition.
Cooper’s visit wasn’t the only brush with celebrity making the rounds this Carnival season. Mobile singer-songwriter Ryan Balthrop was invited on stage during a recent event in Mexico hosted by Grammy-winning artist Brandi Carlile, joining her for a duet during her “Girls Just Wanna” weekend getaway. The pair performed one of Carlile’s songs together, delighting the crowd.
During the introduction, the woman presenting Balthrop stumbled over the pronunciation of “Mobile,” prompting some good-natured help from the audience and from Carlile herself. That presenter has since been identified as actress Rita Wilson, wife of actor Tom Hanks.
Meanwhile, the Carnival calendar has brought new additions to Mobile’s food and drink scene as well. Ghost Train Brewery introduced Riverview Blonde, a new beer, with a launch party at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza hotel on Friday, Feb. 14, around 5 p.m. The brew’s branding leans into the hotel’s waterfront, nautical theme, featuring a blonde mermaid design. The free launch event was held in the hotel’s courtyard along Royal Street, timed just ahead of the Order of Inca parade.
With Fat Tuesday still ahead, Mobile’s Mardi Gras season continues to bring a steady mix of parades, parties and the occasional surprise visit from out-of-town names, keeping the city’s Carnival buzz very much alive.