Missy Elliott is set to receive the Icon Award, presented by last year’s recipient, Janet Jackson, at this year’s Gala of the Stars, the annual benefit supporting Dancers Against Cancer. The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
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A four-time Grammy winner, Elliott was the first female rapper to receive the MTV Video Music Awards’ Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, the first female hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the first female rapper inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Elliott has amassed 10 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and five top 10 albums on the Billboard 200.
The gala will also honor dancer-choreographer Toni Basil (who topped the Hot 100 in 1982 with “Mickey”) with the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Anita Mann, and director and choreographer Vincent Paterson with the Vanguard Award, presented by Julie McDonald and Tony Selznick. Paula Abdul (who notched six No. 1 Hot 100 hits from 1989 to 1991) will return to present the Paula Abdul Legacy Award, with the recipient to be announced. Dancer and television personality Maksim Chmerkovskiy will return as host.
“Missy Elliott represents everything the Icon Award celebrates,” Noah Lands, CEO of Dancers Against Cancer and executive producer of the Gala of the Stars, said in a statement. “Her groundbreaking artistry has inspired generations of performers, and having Janet Jackson, last year’s honoree, present her with this award makes the moment even more special.”
The black-tie gala will feature dinner, an awards ceremony and live entertainment, including a performance by Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies, the acclaimed all-female tap dance group, featuring Abdul’s hit “Straight Up,” which in 1989 became her first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.
Entertainment icon Liza Minnelli, also a past honoree, will serve as honorary chair. The Gala of the Stars Committee includes Anita Mann, Julie McDonald, NappyTabs, Tori Spelling and William Seely. Produced by Noah Lands and Adrian Ruiz, with direction by Nancy O’Meara, Gala of the Stars is DAC’s flagship fundraising event. Since its founding, the gala has helped DAC distribute millions of dollars in financial aid to members of the dance community facing life-threatening illness, helping ensure that no dancer faces cancer alone.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and updates, visit the Gala of the Stars site.