Surprise guest Wynonna Judd delights guests at 50th Heritage Ball in Williamson County
As guests arrived on the grounds of the Historic Eastern Flank Battlefield Park in Franklin on Saturday, it was obvious that gold was the predominant theme of the Heritage Ball’s Golden Anniversary.
The event chairs, Calvin and Marilyn LeHew and Sondra Morris, greeted guests as they entered a gold fabric-draped cocktail area to kick off the evening. As owner of RNM Management and Properties, Morris pulled double duty as lead sponsor of the 2023 ball.
Inside, the event's trio of honorary chairs, Teresa and Danny Anderson and Franklin’s grand dame of entertaining, Marty Ligon, were busy accepting accolades for their decades of contributions. Also seen were Heritage Foundation President and CEO Bari Beasley, Board President David Garrett and wife Vivian, Kathy Lee Gifford, Sen. Marsha Blackburn and husband Chuck Blackburn, "Miss Daisy" King, John Baugh III, Sen. Bill Frist and wife Tracy Frist, and Steve Buzzell.
After cocktails, guests moved into a tented area where dinner was served. The focal point was a white baby grand piano elevated on white staging. Dramatic chandelier lighting and oversized gold candelabra centerpieces nestled into large mounds of white flowers added to the overall ambiance.
Dinner began with a colorful salad followed by a grilled beef tenderloin fillet, topped with crispy onion garnish and red wine demi-glace, served with mixed rice and roasted root vegetables. For dessert, guests were served Celebration Cake.
Surprise guests and Franklin residents Wynonna Judd and her husband, Cactus Moser, took the stage for the evening's entertainment. The couple's appearance was a closely-held secret, which only added to the delight and appreciation of the evening's black-tie guests. Event organizers noted that Judd took time to perform at the ball just three weeks before to her 15-city Back to Wy tour was set to kick off, which made it all the more special.
The Heritage Ball is the largest annual fundraiser for the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee gala features entertainment by Wynonna Judd, delicious fare
