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    True Grit and guitars

    Keith Urban electrifies crowd at Cattle Baron's Ball 2019 in Dallas

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Oct 21, 2019 | 11:20 am

    One of the biggest country music stars on the planet, Keith Urban, kicked Cattle Baron's Ball 2019 into high gear when he took the stage under the big tent at Gilley's on October 19.

    But even before the Entertainer of the Year jammed for the crowd of thousands, the 46th edition of the big American Cancer Society fundraiser proved once again why it's the premier Dallas mega-party of fall.

    Ball co-chairs Lisa Haddow Shirley and Wendy Messmann chose the theme True Grit "to honor those who have shown True Grit as they have battled cancer, cared for a loved one suffering with cancer, or worked tirelessly to research new treatment options to save lives," they wrote in the program book. True Grit, they said, is "a determination and spirit as big as Texas."

    Their committee of 100 volunteers were women of grit and grace who not only planned the ball but jumped in throughout the night to assist partygoers, from sorting out ticket snafus to cleaning up spilled drinks.

    An exclusive VIP party presented by Anne Davidson started the evening. To kick off the fun, country great Travis Tritt got early patrons rocking to "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" and "It's a Great Day to Be Alive" — plus a rousing tribute to Waylon Jennings — while sponsors and donors mixed, mingled, sipped, and previewed auction items.

    Once the masses began arriving, every room of Gilley's was buzzing. Spotted in the crowd and donning their finest Western wear were Tracv Ripsin, Whitney Carroll, Aaron Carroll, Paige Parker, Chance Daniel, Leeanne Callahan, Mark Callahan, Jennifer Royall, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Kristen Gibbins, Andrea Devaldenebro, Anna Mari Lannon, Becky Mazur, and many more.

    G Texas Catering served up a menu of bites as big as the Lone Star State, at stations stocked with Texas fare like beef shortrib sliders, chicken street tacos, Hill Country smoked sausage with barbecue sauce, fried pork chops, and bacon and corn chowder. A build-your-own mac and cheese bar was a big hit, as was the Shiner Bock chili Frito pie.

    Drinks flowed all night too, of course. A signature cocktail, "Long Hot Summer," was named after the Keith Urban song. It poured together Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and club soda.

    Sufficiently stuffed, attendees browsed and bid via their smartphones in the auctions, which had amassed hundreds of items from retailers, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and other venues from around the world. The NorthPark Center Silent Auction Room was overflowing with luxury fashion and home decor items, memberships, sports memorabilia, and more coveted items.

    The biggest bucks were saved for the live auction, conducted by Mike Jones, president of United Classic Auctioneers. This year's fabulous prize packages and fantasy trips included a chance to attend Elton John's Oscars party, which sold for $52,500; a Texas flag-themed Birkin bag, which went for $26,000; and a game of poker with legendary Dallas Cowboys, which nabbed $100,000.

    Each year, one of the most coveted auction items is a trip to Napa for wine and dinner prepared by some of Dallas' finest chefs — including Kent Rathbun, Dean Fearing, Nick Barclay, and Richard Chamberlain. In a poignant "true grit" moment of the night, James "Sevy" Severson, owner of Sevy's Grill, told the crowd about his own battle with cancer. He is still alive, he said, because of cancer research funded by the money raised at Cattle Baron's Ball. After wild cheers and applause, two dinners were sold — one in Napa and one at the location of the buyer's choice — each for $87,500.

    Throughout the night, guests could buy raffle tickets and cross their fingers they'd go home with one of several coveted items: a new luxury car from Park Place, a $10,000 debit card from PlainsCapital Bank, a Highland Park Village shopping spree, a Rolex watch, or a Hawaiian getaway.

    Those who wanted to take in the gorgeous evening air could enjoy a spin on the Ferris wheel underneath the colorful Dallas skyline.

    Then it was time to head to the Andrews Distributing Main Stage to see headliner Keith Urban. For an hour-and-a-half, he rolled out hit after hit from his decades-long career, including "Somebody Like You," "Blue Ain't Your Color," "Days Go By," and "John Couger, John Deere, John 3:16." Urban sang, tossed off guitar solos, and showcased the talents of his bandmates throughout his electrifying set. One of the show's highlights was a virtual duet with Carrie Underwood on their hit "The Fighter." Her video image appeared on screens around the room, and the enthusiastic audience sang along, too.

    The party didn't stop once the last notes were played under the tent. Some folks gathered around an outdoor s'mores pit to toast marshmallows for a sweet ending to the night.

    Back inside, Professor D played favorite covers and filled the dance floor for an after-party until 2 am. Night owls could enjoy breakfast tacos and rehydrate with Topo Chico or grab another strong drink or two, as they kept on flowing.

    When revelers finally caught the shuttle back to their cars or jumped in their Ubers, they didn't leave empty handed. The best favor bag in town was a large cooler tote filled with a goodies including a coffee tumbler, ballcap, cutting board, umbrella, and more fun remembrances of the night.

    Since 1974, Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised more than $81 million to support cancer-fighting initiatives via the American Cancer Society. Numbers from this year's Cattle Baron's Ball are still being tallied, and the chairs will announce the dollar amount raised at a check presentation later this fall. The ball is the largest single-night fundraising event for cancer research in the world.

    Justin Ghiradi, Juan Novoa

    Justin Ghiradi, Juan Novoa
    Photo by WJNPHOTO
    Justin Ghiradi, Juan Novoa
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    A Glittering Celebration

    Christine Baranski brings Hollywood sparkle to Dallas luncheon

    Lindsey Wilson
    Nov 25, 2025 | 12:09 pm
    2025 Texas Women's Foundation luncheon
    Photo by Kim Leeson
    Karen Hughes White, Caren Lock, Christine Baranski, Shonn Brown.

    The Omni Dallas Hotel shimmered in ruby tones on November 14 as more than 950 supporters gathered to celebrate a milestone four decades in the making: the Texas Women’s Foundation’s Ruby Anniversary Luncheon.

    The afternoon blended Hollywood sparkle — courtesy of award-winning actress Christine Baranski — with heartfelt tributes to the visionary women who sparked a movement in Texas 40 years ago.

    The annual luncheon, one of the region’s most significant events advancing women and girls, raised an impressive $840,000. More than $112,000 of that came in during the program itself, underscoring the energy in the room and the urgency of the mission.

    TXWF used the occasion to announce a landmark figure: a cumulative $115 million in impact since its founding in 1985. That number includes nearly $90 million in grants to organizations serving women and girls, as well as more than $25 million invested in research, advocacy, and leadership initiatives designed to shape long-term change.

    Board chair Cris Zertuche Wong opened the program by welcoming seven of the Foundation’s 11 living founders, who also served as the event's honorary co-chairs: Susan Shamburger Bagwell, the Honorable Harryette Ehrhardt, Catalina E. Garcia, Frances Griffin-Brown, Helen LaKelly Hunt, the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, Madeline Mandell, Patricia Meadows, Gwendolyn Oliver, CoYoTe PhoeNix, and Rebecca Russell Sykes.

    Their presence cast a powerful through line from 1985 to 2025, reminding guests how a collective of 19 bold women stepped across differences in background, beliefs, and political leanings to create an organization with the singular purpose of supporting Texas women and their families.

    Wong also recognized former Foundation leaders and Ruby Anniversary co-chairs from across the decades: Gail Griswold and Brenda Jackson representing the 1980s; Laura Estrada, the 1990s; Helen Frank, the 2000s; and Shonn Brown, the 2020s.

    TXWF president and CEO Karen Hughes White spoke to the road ahead, noting that while the founders’ vision remains timeless, the challenges facing Texas women have grown more complex. “It will take all of us to create meaningful, lasting, systemic change that levels the playing field for women and, in turn, creates a strong and vibrant Texas for all,” she said.

    Throughout the luncheon, guests were treated to archival video clips of the founders recalling how they built TXWF from scratch: the meetings held around kitchen tables, the spirited debates, the shared belief that change was not only possible but necessary.

    Brown then honored each of the 11 living founders, as well as those who have passed, noting that their collective voice will be further amplified in a forthcoming 40-story collection documenting TXWF's history.

    The afternoon’s featured guest, introduced by Target executive and event sponsor Sabrina Thomas, was the incomparable Christine Baranski, the Emmy and Tony-winning actress of The Good Wife, Cybil, and The Gilded Age.

    In an onstage conversation moderated by former board chair Caren Lock, Baranski charmed the audience with stories from her upbringing in Buffalo, New York, where she grew up in a working-class Polish American family. She spoke of perseverance, discipline, and dreaming big, qualities that carried her to Juilliard and ultimately into a celebrated four-decade career spanning television, film, and theater.

    As the luncheon drew to a close, the mood was equal parts celebratory and forward-looking. Forty years in, the Texas Women’s Foundation continues to push for equity with the same passion that fueled its founding.

    2025 Texas Women's Foundation luncheon

    Photo by Kim Leeson

    Karen Hughes White, Caren Lock, Christine Baranski, Shonn Brown.

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