A star-studded lineup of celebrities graced the red carpet at the 2025 Barnstable Brown Gala, for the events 36th year. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was the star of the night, getting ready to attend her first Kentucky Derby and give the “Riders up” call at Saturday’s 151st Run for the Roses. WHAS11 asked her how she was feeling ahead of the big day. “I’m not that nervous. Everyone’s making me seem like I should be nervous, but I’m not. So, maybe I should be!” she laughed.
When Simone Biles steps into a room, she doesn’t just walk — she owns it. That was exactly the vibe as the Olympic gymnast graced the 36th annual Barnstable Brown Gala, a star-studded kickoff to Kentucky Derby weekend. With elegance, poise, and a dash of diva, Simone proved she’s not just a champion on the mat but also a fashion icon on the red carpet. But what’s the big deal about this gala? Why was her attendance so buzz-worthy? Let’s dig into all the glitz, glam, and Derby-day excitement that surrounded her unforgettable night.
Comedian and veteran of the Barnstable Brown Gala Tracy Morgan said he looks forward to the Derby every year. “I fell in love with [Secretariat] many years ago, me and my father saw the race live on television,” Morgan said. Some stars like Wilmer Valderrama and Aaron Rogers posed on the carpet, but didn’t stop to talk. Selma Blair twirled her way across the red carpet before going into the party. Country singer Dierks Bentley said the uniqueness of the gala keeps bringing him back. “I’ve been to every party I feel like that exists, from the Grammys to some of the other fun stuff in Nashville and all the shows on the road, this is just such a one of a kind, if you know, you know kind of thing,” he said. “And I’ve actually brought some people with me tonight. They’ve never been before. They were going, like, we’re going to we’re in a neighborhood. I’m like, it’s a house. What?”
*NYSYNC’s Joey Fatone, another familiar face to the gala, brought a surprise guest with him, Brian Quinn from Impractical Jokers. “He’s the reason I’m here. He brought me down,” Quinn said. “I go every year. I’m here every year, and I’m like, ‘Q, you got to come check this out.’ So I’m very happy that he’s here, and hopefully this will be something that he’ll be keep coming to,” Fatone said.
And longtime Barnstable Brown guest Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men doesn’t miss a gala. “It’s the party, it’s the place to be, it’s where everybody’s at, and I get to see some some old friends of mine, and I get to meet some new ones. It has some sort of allure where people want to come to this place. And it’s, it’s one of the sexiest places to be,” he said. The gala goes to benefit the Diabetes Center at the University of Kentucky. In the 36 years of the gala it has raised over $21 million.
Other big names that showed out Friday night are:
Blair Underwood- Actor
Lee Brice- Musician
Mickey Guyton- Musician
Travis Tritt- Musician
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels- Rapper
Davante Adams- NFL football player
Brantley Gilbert- Musician
Doug E. Fresh- Rapper
Larry and Dannielynn Birkhead
Jordan Smith- Musician
Billy Gilman- Musician
Nappy Roots- Rap group
RaeLynn- Musician
Randall Cobb- NFL football player
Jimmy Graham- NFL football player
AJ Hawk- Sports analyst
Matt Flynn- NFL football player
David Bakhtiari- NFL football player
Bryan Bulaga- NFL football player
Corey Linsley- NFL football player
Allen Lazard- NFL football player
