Nelly and Wyclef on stage
Courtesy of Midcoast Media with permission
St. Louis, Mo. – Nov 26, 2024 – The Black and White Ball, St. Louis’ premier celebrity gala, is returning for 2024. For a decade (from 2006 to 2016), Grammy Award-winning rapper, actor and entrepreneur Nelly annually hosted the black-tie party with a purpose – a highlight of the city’s social calendar. He brought the beloved event back in 2023, with a packed guest list and star-studded lineup, as a way to continue celebrating and giving back to his hometown St Louis.
Nelly on stage, last year
This year’s Black and White Ball is scheduled for Sunday, December 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. Nelly will be joined by a diverse group of invited friends from the entertainment, sports and business communities.
The Black and White Ball will raise funds for Make-A-Wish Missouri, an organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Money raised from the event will go to grant wishes for local St. Louis children, continuing the gala’s legacy of supporting locally-focused charities. The Black and White Ball will also fund scholarships for local St. Louis students to attend Harris-Stowe State University, a historically black college and university (HBCU) committed to providing affordable, quality higher education to underserved populations in a friendly, inspiring environment.
“Last year’s Black and White Ball was a huge success,” said Nelly. “St. Louis showed up in a big way, and we are excited for this year. With the incredible support of our friends, and the St. Louis community, we’re aiming to raise even more funds to make an even bigger impact, and have a great time while doing it!
Previous attendees and performers of the Black and White Ball have included Wyclef Jean, Janet Jackson, Monica, Allen Iverson, Nick Cannon, T-Pain, Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, Evander Holyfield, Boyz II Men, Ashanti, Marshall Faulk, D.L. Hughley, Johnny Gill, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, En Vogue, Big Boss Vette, Ron Isley, Isaac Keys, Polow Da Don, Bill Bellamy, DMC from Run-DMC, Ozzie Smith, Jim Edmonds, Jon Jay, Orlando Pace, Torry Holt and members of the St. Lunatics.
The event is produced by Derrty Entertainment and SYNERGY Productions LLC. Additional information is available at www.blackwhiteballstl.com
ABOUT NELLY
A luminary in the music industry, Nelly’s enduring success spans over two decades, marked by diamond-selling, multi-platinum achievements and multiple Grammys. Nelly has shaped the entertainment landscape for over two decades with his distinct vocals and dynamic personality selling over 21 million albums with Country Grammar being one of the only hip-hop albums to have gone 10x platinum. He emerged in 2000 captivating hearts and headlines in music, television and film. In more recent years, he achieved Double Diamond status with country crossover singles, “Cruise “ and “Lil Bit” and released his highly anticipated country-inspired album “HEARTLAND.” In 2021, Nelly marked the 20th anniversary of “Nellyville” and reached 1 billion views for “Dilemma” on YouTube. Beyond music, he graced BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and collaborated with brands including Burger King and Budweiser. In 2020, Nelly celebrated the 20th anniversary of “Country Grammar,” claimed third place on “Dancing with the Stars,” and secured roles in “Clear Lake” and a Lays Potato Chips commercial. Nelly’s diverse talents extended to sports commentary on Fox Sports. His impact transcends music with successful ventures like Apple Bottoms clothing line and his newest project, his signature moonshine – MoShine.
Nelly’s philanthropy has included supporting Make-A-Wish and establishing grants for college students, in addition to inspiring the largest African American attended bone marrow drive. Today he still stands in the top 20 most successful rappers of all time. In 2023, Nelly sold a percentage of his music catalog in an unprecedented deal, while he continues selling out tour dates and festivals worldwide. HEARTLAND 2 is anticipated to release in 2025..
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Senior Editor, Digital Manager, Blogger, has been nominated for awards several times as Publisher and Author over the years. Has been with company for almost three years and is a current native St. Louisan.
