Country concert news

Country music bad boy Morgan Wallen headlines ACM Awards benefit show in Dallas-Fort Worth

Morgan Wallen's coming to town for the ACMs.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen

UPDATE 5-10-2023: Morgan Wallen has canceled his appearance due to illness and has been replaced as headliner. Details here.

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Dallas-Fort Worth will be the center of the country music universe on May 11, when the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards are broadcast from The Star in Frisco. As with any worldwide, Super Bowl-level event, there'll be many happenings leading up to it. First up: a benefit concert headlined by Morgan Wallen.

The country music bad boy (and current superstar and reigning ACM Album of the Year winner) takes top billing on "ACM Lifting Lives LIVE: Morgan Wallen & Friends," a fundraiser for Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music. The "friends" taking the stage with him include reigning ACM Songwriter of the Year HARDY, reigning ACM New Female Artist and Song of the Year winner Lainey Wilson, ERNEST, Bailey Zimmerman, and DJ 13lackbeard.

The show will be held at 7:30 pm Wednesday, May 10 on the golfing green at Topgolf in The Colony. It will follow the Topgolf Tee-Off and Rock On Fundraiser, presented by VGT by Aristocrat Gaming, taking place earlier that day; the concert is ticketed separately from the golf tournament.

Just what does Lifting Lives do? According to a release, "in addition to distributing more than $4 million to date through its Covid Relief Fund, ACM Lifting Lives provides critical support through the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, significant annual commitments to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Music Health Alliance, and the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, and individual grants to organizations that reach communities all across America."

Now in its fourth year (and first in Texas), the golf tournament brings together artists, industry members, and fans for a golf skills competition and an extended day of live entertainment.

"ACM Lifting Lives does great work providing aid in times of need to folks inside and outside of the music industry,” Wallen says in the release. “My band and I are excited to help them raise funds to continue doing this amazing work.”

Now, for the ticket details, per the release:

General Admission tickets to the concert became available to ACM Members, ACM A-List subscribers, 58th ACM Awards ticket holders, and Topgolf Friends and Family through an exclusive presale that started at 12 pm Thursday, March 23.
Remaining tickets will be available for a general public onsale beginning Friday, March 24 at 10 am through AXS.
Tickets to the benefit concert only are $350 plus service fees.
Those who have purchased bays for golf will be able to remain in their bay for the concert, with the bay serving as a suite to watch the show. A limited amount of VIP fan golf bays for the Topgolf Tee-Off and Rock On are available for purchase; email rockon@acmcountry.com.

Power lunch

Room to Grow Luncheon blooms in spring garden at NorthPark Dallas

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Ashlynn Bourque, Traci Connell, Michele Traylor

What: 8th Annual Room to Grow Luncheon benefiting Dec My Room

Where: Neiman Marcus Garden at NorthPark Center

The 411: A sold-out crowd of nearly 300 guests gathered April 8 for the 2026 Room to Grow Luncheon, chaired by Erika Burton and Melissa Smrekar with honorary chair Nancy Nasher. The springtime affair embraced a charming, Nancy Meyers film-inspired aesthetic, with attendees arriving in breezy, movie set-worthy looks to match the theme.

Guests sipped prosecco and mini Diet Cokes and mingled while admiring one-of-a-kind miniature “rooms” designed by some of Dallas’ most distinguished interior designers: Javier Burkle (Burkle Creative), Traci Connell (Traci Connell Interiors), Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry (Pulp Design Studios), Teddie Garrigan and Courtney Garrigan (Coco and Dash), Lisa Henderson (Lisa Henderson Interiors), Eddie Maestri (Maestri Studio), Noel Pittman (Noel Pittman Design), and Jen Stevens (Fonde Interiors). All would be auctioned to benefit Dec My Room, which creates personalized spaces for pediatric patients facing long-term hospital stays.

Inside the garden, guests dined on a luncheon by Chocolate Angel, featuring dishes inspired by Nancy Meyers' iconic Father of the Bride (such as Chipper Chicken Salad). A spring fashion presentation by Neiman Marcus, introduced by Marjon Henderson, added stylish flair, while a design panel gave attendees insider perspectives from industry creatives including Burkle, Jane Scott Hodges of Leontine Linens, and Tori Ross of Schumacher.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Ashlynn Bourque, Traci Connell, Michele Traylor

Dec My Room North Texas area director Heather Smith also honored standout supporters: Terra Najork-Peterson with the Monarch Servant Heart Award; Renza DePirro with the Heart of Gold Volunteer Award; and Samantha Allen with the Celebrate Flight Award.

To learn more about Dec My Room and its mission, visit the organization's website.

Who: Dec My Room co-founder and president Kendall Plank; Karen Michlewicz, Keely Allen, Izzy Haemisegger, Ashlynn Bourque, Michele Traylor, Dana Aulanier, Marisa Carona, Courtney Dowling, Maddy Artunduaga, Brittaney Mungioli, Megan Morrow, Jessica Khan, Samantha Wortley, Jennifer Klos, Annie Roche, Kaleta Blaffer Johnson, Mackenzie Brittingham, Kristen Gibbins, Dawn Greiner, Erin Mathews, Kristin Williams, Courtney Derderian, Shelby Foster, and hundreds more patrons and supporters.

luncheons