Reba McEntire, Mo Brings Plenty, and more Western legends mixed and mingled at the 2024 Western Heritage Awards.
The Oklahoma stars shone bright over the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum as some of the West’s biggest movers and shakers gathered to celebrate the annual Western Heritage Awards. C&I was honored to partner with the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum to help celebrate this year’s honorees and inductees with a red carpet and more. This year gifted us with dazzling red carpet looks, words of wisdom, and appearances from some C&I favorites.
Country music superstar and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Reba McEntire sat under the museum’s famous End Of The Trail sculpture for a panel discussion. Reba sat in conversation with actor and Hall of Great Western Performers inductee Keith Carradine and actor Rex Linn.
As the night rolled up and the party kicked off, many Western luminaries made their way to the C&I red carpet. C&I favorite Mo Brings Plenty and his wife Sara Ann Haney graced the red carpet as Brings Plenty prepared to receive the award’s inaugural New Horizon Award. Master hatter and National Cowgirl Hall of Famer Shorty Koger made an appearance in celebration of this year’s honorees and inductees. Designer Naiomi Glasses dazzled the crowd along with her brother and mother, both of whom joined Glasses in a recent photoshoot showcasing her collaboration with Ralph Lauren. Guests, honorees, and inductees mingled, swapping stories, sentiments, and a shared love for the West while enjoying the museum’s vast gallery.
Before the big event, Reba McEntire sat down with fellow country artist Adrian Brannan to share some wisdom. The star opened up about growing up in a rodeo family and her original pursuit of barrel racing. When asked to give a piece of advice to young cowgirls, McEntire answered, “Love yourself. Respect yourself. If you don’t love and respect yourself, why would you expect anybody else to?”
Hilarious anecdotes to tear-jerking tributes, the award ceremony ran the full spectrum of special moments. The Wrangler, a specialty trophy originally sculpted by Western artist Harold “H” Holden, was given out to honorees and inductees as the night progressed. Well-known artists, actors, musicians, and personalities made their way to the stage to present their peers with awards for their accomplishments. Cowboy poet and Western treasure Red Steagall made an appearance to present multiple awards, alongside Anita LaCava Swift, John Wayne’s granddaughter. The Duke’s presence was felt throughout the night, with his son Patrick Wayne also making an appearance to present awards alongside actor Barry Corbin. Adrian Brannan, Rex Linn, Mike Ingram, Gary Kinslow, and current Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Chesney Grimes were among those who graced the stage.
Loving tributes abounded as honorees and inductees accepted their awards. Upon legendary cowboy Buster Welch’s posthumous induction into the Hall of Great Westerners, family members took to the stage to share memories of the famed cutting horse trainer, who has also received inductions from the NCHA Members Hall of Fame, American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Other posthumous inductees of the night included Western actors Noah Beery Jr. and John Smith.
Actor Keith Carradine took to the stage to accept his induction into the Hall of Great Western Performers for his work spanning numerous westerns, including Dead Man’s Walk, Deadwood, and Wild Bill. Producer John Wirth accepted the Fictional Television Drama award for Season 2, Episode 6 of Dark Winds, Hózhó náhásdlįį (Beauty is Restored).” He was joined by fellow producer Max Hurwitz and Dark Winds actors A. Martinez, Nicholas Logan, and Kiowa Gordon. Another piece featuring Indigenous representation to be recognized was documentary Lakota Nation vs. United States, winning Best Documentary for its chronicle of the Lakota Nation’s fight to reclaim control of the Black Hills.
Decked out in fringe, McEntire made her way to the stage to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, putting her in the ranks with George Strait, Robert Duvall, and Red Steagall among other greats. This year’s Western Heritage Awards also debuted a new award created to celebrate and empower an individual who has made a significant impact in their community while upholding the values of the Western culture. The New Horizon award was given to Native actor, activist, and cover star Mo Brings Plenty. Mo gave a powerful speech full of gratitude and wisdom, and gave a loving tribute to his late nephew Cole Brings Plenty. Leaving the audience with a testament of wisdom, Mo said “Love one another. Protect each other. Remember, it is not a moment we are judged by. It is the life and how we leave others and how we care for each other.”
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
