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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.

    Cattle Baron's Ball has become a tradition at Gilley's.

    Gilley's Cattle Baron's Ball 2019
      
    Photo by WJNPHOTO
    Cattle Baron's Ball has become a tradition at Gilley's.
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    Celebrity wedding

    Dallas Cowboys cheerleader ties the knot in dreamy wedding in Tuscany

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Jun 16, 2025 | 4:24 pm
    Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Marissa Phillips, Braden Leschber wedding, Tuscany
    Photo by Kseniya Palchi via Facebook/Marissa Phillips and People magazine.
    Marissa Phillips and Braden Leschber wed on June 3, 2025 in Italy.

    Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Marissa Phillips married her college sweetheart, Braden Leschber, in a picture-perfect wedding under the Tuscan sun of Italy on June 3, 2025.

    People magazine got the exclusive on all the wedding details and gorgeous photos by Milan-based photographer Kseniya Palchik.

    Phillips just completed her third year with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and reportedly cut the Italian wedding trip short to return to Dallas and "buckle down" for the next season's auditions. She appeared in Season 1 of Netflix's hit series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Season 2 begins streaming Wednesday, June 18.

    Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Marissa Phillips, Braden Leschber wedding, Tuscany
      

    Photo by Kseniya Palchi via Facebook/Marissa Phillips and People magazine.

    Marissa Phillips and Braden Leschber wed on June 3, 2025 in Italy.

    Phillips, a Round Rock native, began dating Leschber in 2017 when they were college students: she, at Texas A&M University and he, at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. They got engaged, fittingly, on the field of AT&T Stadium in Arlington - home of the Cowboys - on August 10, 2023.

    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Braden Leschber (@braden_leschber)

    According to People, the couple chose to marry in Italy for two reasons: because of Phillips' proud Italian family heritage and because it was (somehow!) cheaper than a big, traditional Texas wedding. So, they and 75 friends and loved ones jetted off to romantic Tuscany for a destination wedding extravaganza that lasted several days.

    "We wanted to make this celebration as special as it could be and stray away from the typical wedding scene whenever we could," Phillips told the magazine. "We also don’t get a lot of time to slow down and enjoy the company of our friends and family, so we really loved the idea of a destination wedding, where everyone could unplug and spend time together."

    Festivities started Monday, June 2 with a welcome party that included Italy's two most important food groups: pizza and gelato.

    The wedding was held the next day at Borgo Stomennano, a historic estate in the Chianti Classico region, near Florence and Siena. According to the website, the estate's villa and farmhouses are surrounded by woods, vineyards, and olive groves in a tiny village built on ancient Roman and Etruscan ruins that are still visible.

    For the ceremony, People says, the bride wore Katherine Tash's elegant "Luna" wedding dress, featuring a wide-scooped neckline and hand-draped bodice and skirt, from Dallas bridal shop a&bé bridal. To complete her bridal look, she rented diamond stud earrings and a tennis bracelet from Verstolo and wore shoes from Bella Belle Shoes. Her hair and makeup were done by The Styling Stewardess. Bridesmaids wore black dresses from Birdy Grey and Kendra Scott jewelry.

    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Marissa Phillips (@marissaphillips__)

    Phillips walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of Lana Del Rey's "Video Games" and Phillips' brother-in-law officiated the Christian ceremony, in which bride and groom exchanged traditional vows.

    "[Marriage] means we are stuck with each other for life, through the good times and the bad, tied together as one under God and what God has joined together, let no man separate," Phillips told the magazine.

    At the reception, guests dined on a three-course plated dinner of Italian favorites, including trofie pasta with arugula and walnut pesto; fagottino (filled pasta) with bufala ricotta and artichokes and pecorino cheese sauce; and pork chops lacquered with honey and chopped pistachios. Dessert was traditional Italian wedding cake, which the couple "made" in front of guests. (A photo shows them sifting powdered sugar on top.)

    Phillips told People that she and Leschber took the food so seriously, they traveled to Italy a year before their wedding for a tasting with their caterer, Il Sorriso Ricevimenti.

    The bride changed into a custom party dress designed by her best friend and bridesmaid, Kathryn Emily of Belvedere Couture, made of fabric, lace and pearls from Phillips' mother's preserved wedding dress. The newlyweds and their guests then danced the night away to the live music of BritPops.

    Marissa Phillips, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders wedding.The bride and fellow Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performed "Thunderstruck" at the reception.Photo by Kseniya Palchik via People magazine.

    And, in keeping with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders tradition, members of the squad performed their iconic routine "Thunderstruck."

    Before heading home, the couple and their guests gathered the next day for a "La Dolce Vita"-themed pool party. The new Mr. and Mrs. then slipped away to Lake Como for a quick "mini moon." (They'll take a longer honeymoon at the end of the next Cowboys season, they say.)

    Back home in Dallas, Phillips is not only a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, but also an administrative assistant at an accounting firm and co-owner (with her sister) of the online Joey Lynn Boutique. She's also involved in the Alzheimer's Association in honor of her father, who died of Lewy Body Dementia in 2021.

    She's also a social media influencer. She went viral in December 2024 for gifting each of the 40 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders members a Dyson Airwrap hairstyling tool, valued at $600 each.

    “Huge thank you to @dysonbeauty and @dysonusa for helping me pull off the biggest surprise to the girls who deserve it most! All the love,” she wrote in the Instagram caption of a video of the women opening the $24,000 Christmas haul.

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