Beyond the Tie

Celeb-studded Black Tie Dinner goes all out for its 40th anniversary

Most fundraisers rely on one celebrity guest to up the excitement, but Black Tie Dinner has always been a little bit extra.

The glamorous, all-night extravaganza, co-chaired by Brad Pritchett and Terry Loftis and held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Dallas, welcomed five in-person celebs and two more by video, for a program that ran the gamut from anticipatory to reflective to an all-out party.

It began with a cocktail hour where guests could browse the silent auction offerings before heading into the ballroom for a filet and snapper dinner. D.J. "Shangela" Pierce strutted through the crowd, performing a mega mix of his top hits and setting the tone for the celebratory evening.

Pierce is best known for starring in the Emmy-nominated HBO series We’re Here and Emmy Award-winning reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race, and was honored later in the evening with the Vanguard Award for his contributions to the LGBTQ community and for leading a movement of drag across American to positively transform hearts and minds throughout the country.

Black Tie Dinner officially renamed the Ally for Equality Award the Dale Hansen Ally for Equality Award, for the media personality's years of support and positive impact on the LGBTQ community. A tearful speech from Dale Hansen himself brought the crowd to their feet.

This recipient of this year's award was Michelle Visage, an actress, producer, media personality, and television host who is best known for serving as a permanent judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. She graciously accepted it with pre-recorded remarks.

Bobby Berk, a design expert and Emmy-nominated TV host best known for transforming lives and living spaces on the hit Netflix series Queer Eye, was honored with the Media Award, which is presented to an individual or industry leader who has demonstrated a solid commitment to bringing public and media attention to major LGBTQ issues.

The Elizabeth Birch Equality Award recipient was Niecy Nash, an Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian best known for her roles in Reno 911! and Claws. She delivered one of the most powerful speeches of the evening, quoting her mother with "Pull up, push through, and never look like what you’re going through" after revealing she had been in the hospital for an undisclosed illness until that very morning.

The annual Kuchling Humanitarian Award was presented to Veletta Lill and Chris Luna for their positive impact on the North Texas LGBTQ community. Both served on the Dallas City Council, where they were integral in helping to pass city ordinances critical to the protection of the LGBTQ+ rights.

Receiving this year's Visibility Award via video was actress, writer, and producer Josie Totah, who courageously came out as transgender in 2018 and is currently playing the popular cheerleader Lexi in Peacock's Saved by the Bell.

Following his passing this year, North Texas resident Jon Erdos received the Richard Weaver Volunteer Award for his countless contributions to Black Tie Dinner. He leaves behind a legacy worthy of celebration.

Comedian Dana Goldberg returned as the entertaining host of Black Tie Dinner’s luxury auction and Beyond the Tie Appeal, generating a record-breaking $150,000-plus in the ballroom.

Singer, songwriter, and choreographer Todrick Hall performed a melody of his greatest hits and debuted an original song to close out the night — before the After Black after-party started, of course.

The nonprofit Black Tie Dinner raises funds for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) supportive organizations serving North Texas through a premier event of empowerment, education, and entertainment in partnership with the community.

From its origins as a small fundraising dinner among friends in 1982, Black Tie Dinner has grown into the largest fundraising dinner in the nation for the LGBTQ community.

Each year, Black Tie Dinner selects up to 20 nonprofit organizations from North Texas as local beneficiaries of its fundraising, as well as the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as its national beneficiary. To date, Black Tie Dinner has distributed nearly $26 million dollars to a wide variety of organizations serving the needs of the LGBTQ community.

The 2021 final beneficiary distribution amount will be announced at the Wrap Party presented by Lexus on Thursday, November 18.

For additional information about Black Tie Dinner, the Wrap Party, and to see a full list of 2021 beneficiaries, visit blacktie.org.

Brad Pritchett, Bobby Berk, Terry Loftis

Photo by Sheryl Lanzel

Brad Pritchett, Bobby Berk, Terry Loftis

Denim & rhinestones

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 wrangles record $7.1 million

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Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 chairs Marjon Henderson and Lora Farris had chosen the theme "New Horizons" for their Carrie Underwood-headlined event. By the end of the night, they'd changed their anthem to her hit "Blown Away."

"We just broke every record!" Henderson enthused as she passed out hugs during the live auction.

The big record they were going for was $100 million - a grand total raised in all 51 years of Cattle Baron's Ball. Entering the night, they only had a couple million to go. No sweat for this event. And, they made it.

Henderson and Farris revealed on November 6 that the grand total raised at the 2024 ball was (drumroll, please) $7,122,663.

Cattle Baron's Ball is the largest single-night fundraiser in the nation for cancer research through the American Cancer Society.

It's also Dallas' biggest party of the year.

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 Cattle Baron's Ball chairs Lora Farris and Marjon Henderson with some special four-legged guests at the entrance.Photo by Haynsworth Photography

On Saturday, September 28, more than 3,000 party-goers, cowgirl'd and cowboy'd up in their Western-glammy best, descended from party buses and rideshare SUVs to the grounds of Southfork Ranch in Parker. Henderson and Farris, along with their volunteer committee 100 women strong, greeted guests on the famous grounds of the TV show Dallas, site of the first Cattle Baron’s Ball in 1974.

An exclusive VIP party, presented by Anne Davidson inside the Southfork Ranch Event and Conference Center, got the evening off to a festive start. Mistress of ceremonies, NBC 5's Deborah Ferguson, gave a hearty welcome and introduced '90s country tribute band Straight Tequila Night to the stage.

Early arrivals got the first chance to sip the night's signature “Cowboy Casanova” and "Take the Wheel" cocktails, featuring Grey Goose Vodka and Patron Cristalino Tequila, respectively. Longtime CBB-ers know to pace themselves when it comes to food; the entire night is a frenzy of glorious gluttony (keep reading). VIPs nibbled on lobster quesadillas, mini grilled cheese, bacon-wrapped jalapeno popper bites, Dublin Dr Pepper short ribs, Frito pie, and more.

Photo by Haynsworth Photography

Cattle Baron's Ball co-chair Marjon Henderson and her girlfriend group had plenty of reasons to smile.

At 7 pm, the masses arrived and the party really got started. It was a picture-perfect fall evening to take a Ferris wheel ride at sunset or pose for souvenir photos at one of the many interactive photo booths around the grounds.

Each room inside the Conference Center was buzzing with activity. The main event, as always, was the enormous silent auction. Bidders browsed and bid via smartphones for hundreds items from local retailers, restaurants, exquisite jewelry and fashion, trips, home decor, sports and music memorabilia, and more. The showpiece of the room was a stunning blue gown by Dallas designer Ese Azenabor, up for auction and bought for thousands.

For the first time ever, Neiman Marcus sponsored a "Glam Room," where guests could get get makeup touch-ups, enjoy a trendy Hugo Spritz cocktail, and enjoy Neiman Marcus' famous chocolate chip cookies. Next door, folks could shop for boots, cowboy hats, and jewelry at the event's first-ever Marketplace. (Considering everyone was wearing some combination of boots, jewelry, or hats, the room stayed impressively full of people trying on and buying.)

The Casino stayed busy, and so did a Mizzen + Main Sports Lounge next door. Note to next year's organizers: Stock up on the White Rhino espresso martinis. Fans remembered the hand-shaken delights from last year, the line stayed long, and supplies ran out early.

Time for more food. Vestals Catering served up an outdoor buffet as big as Texas: smoked bistro filet; smoked and jalapeno sausages; spicy peach-glazed chicken thighs; butternut squash, kale, and mushroom enchiladas; Texas caviar, cobbler with Blue Bell ice cream, and more.

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 A getaway to Mexico was one of several fabulous trips auctioned off for thousands.Photo by Haynsworth Photography

At 8:15 pm, Cowgirl bell-ringing baronesses signaled it was time for the live auction to begin. Led by lively auctioneer Letitia Frye (herself a cancer survivor, she announced), this year's jaw-dropping prize packages and fantasy trips included a Napa wine weekend (sold for $55,000); best seats in the house for the forthcoming Carrie Underwood concert (sold for $75,000) and an "Ultimate Tailgate" with Troy Aikman (sold three times for $75,000).

Each year, one of the most coveted auction items is a wine dinner prepared by some of Dallas' finest chefs — including Kent Rathbun and Dean Fearing. Two dinners were sold for $200,000 each, bringing in a record-breaking total of $400,000.

A “paddle raise” initiative around the room raised an additional $1 million to name a grant in honor of Kace Phillips, a Dallas resident and CBB supporter who died of glioblastoma last January. His wife, Claire, and their young children appeared on stage to remember him and encourage the fundraising.

Finally, it was time to head into a sprawling tent for headlinerCarrie Underwood. Making their way across the grounds, patrons picked up portable “concert snacks” including dill pickle popcorn, rosemary potato chips, and ginger molasses cookies.

Dressed in black sequin shorts and denim-rhinestone jacket, Underwood played a high-wattage show for more than an hour. The crowd crooned along to her biggest hits, from "Church Bells" to "Cowboy Casanova" to "Before He Cheats," and threw their hands into the air, church revival-style, for "Jesus Take the Wheel." Her cover of Guns 'N Roses "Paradise City," for which she shed her denim jacket and head-banged her long blond hair, got the audience rocking along, too.

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 The crowd gathers inside the concert tent for the Carrie Underwood show.Photo by Haynsworth Photography

Those who wanted to catch early Ubers home ended the night there, while those who wanted to make a late night of it gathered back inside on the dance floor beneath the Live Auction stage, where Manhattan Orchestra band revved up the after-party until 2 am.

And, oh yes, there was more food for late-night revelers: breakfast tacos; a deep-fried station of tater tots, fried pickles, and onion rings; burgers, and sliders. And for good measure, a Raising Cane's food truck showed up with chicken fingers, too.

Going into the 2024 event, Cattle Baron’s Ball had raised more than $98 million since its inception in 1974. The November 6 check presentation for more than $7 million no doubt had the beneficiaries singing "Blown Away."

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The story originally was published on October 2, 2024. It was updated with the total amount raised on November 7, 2024.

american cancer society carrie underwood cattle baron's ball celebrities fundraisers galas neiman marcus