Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
The tone or style of this article may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(May 2007) |
Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball was a three-day celebration honoring twenty-five African American women in the fields of art, entertainment, and civil rights. "These women, who have been meaningful to so many of us over the years, are legends who have been magnificent in their pioneering and advancing of African-American women. It is because of their steps that our journey has no boundaries", said Oprah Winfrey.[1]
The celebration included a luncheon, white-tie ball, and gospel brunch.
The twenty-five women included Maya Angelou, Shirley Caesar, Diahann Carroll, Elizabeth Catlett, Ruby Dee, Katherine Dunham, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Nikki Giovanni, Dorothy Height, Lena Horne, Coretta Scott King, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Toni Morrison, Rosa Parks, Leontyne Price, Della Reese, Diana Ross, Naomi Sims, Tina Turner, Cicely Tyson, Alice Walker, Dionne Warwick, and Nancy Wilson.
On May 22, 2006, a year after the celebration, a one-hour special about the weekend aired on ABC. It included candid celebrity interviews and behind-the-scenes moments.
The historic weekend began Friday with a private luncheon at Oprah's Montecito home where the "legends" were greeted by the "young'uns" — acclaimed stars, including Ashanti, Yolanda Adams, Debbie Allen, Tyra Banks, Angela Bassett, Kathleen Battle, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Naomi Campbell, Mariah Carey, Natalie Cole, Kimberly Elise, Missy Elliott, Pam Grier, Iman, Beverly Johnson, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad, Valerie Simpson, Anna Deavere Smith and Alfre Woodard, among others. Throughout the weekend, the "young'uns" paid homage to the "legends" for their great contributions. World-renowned event planner Colin Cowie attended to every detail, and Grammy Award-winner John Legend performed his hit song, "Ordinary People". At the end of the lucheon, Oprah surprised her guests with a parting gift. The legends received diamond drop earrings and the young'uns received diamond hoop earrings.
Notably, Aretha Franklin did not attend any of the events, and Leslie Uggams and Whoopi Goldberg were overlooked as being honored as legends.
[edit] The white-tie ball
On Saturday night, there was a white-tie Legends Ball with guests including Sidney Poitier, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Usher, Barbra Streisand, James Brolin, Lionel Richie, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Diane Sawyer, Mike Nichols, Maria Shriver, Chris Tucker, Barbara Walters, Quincy Jones, Spike Lee, Senator Barack Obama, and Tyler Perry, among many others.
[edit] The Sunday brunch
The finale of the Legends weekend was Sunday's gospel brunch with spontaneous performances by Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Shirley Caesar, Valerie Simpson, Yolanda Adams, and Chaka Khan.
