2026 Dream Awards

Mable Buckner’s Dream Awards Celebrates Legends, Trailblazers and the Power of a Dream

Article by Sheryl Aronson
Photography by Sheryl Aronson & Sherman Alford (Sasaphotos)

On Oct. 25, 2026, Mable Buckner’s Dream Awards transformed The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas into a joyful celebration of entertainment legends, trailblazers and rising talent. The evening honored Tony Orlando and Bill Medley with Lifetime Achievement Awards; Verdine White with the Icon Award; Honey Cone as Legendary Female Group; George Wallace with the Living Legend Award; Ane’ Marshall with the Las Vegas Entertainer Award; Kathleen Bradley with the Trailblazer Award; Damian Costa with the Jimmy Payton Visionary Award; and Loretta Holloway with a Las Vegas proclamation.

The festivities began on the red carpet, hosted by Sheryl Thornton-Burnham, as honorees and performers arrived for interviews and photographs. Inside the theater, comedian and emcee John Di Domenico and singer-actress Christine Shebeck guided the audience through an expansive program filled with music, humor and heartfelt tributes.

Under the musical direction of Reginald “RJ” Johnson, the band played with precision and sensitivity, providing a polished foundation for every performer. Among the evening’s highlights were Ken Young and Tyric Johnson’s powerful vocals in a tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire; Lannie Counts’ moving In Memoriam salute to Peabo Bryson; Kelly Vohnn’s energetic Dolly Parton tribute featuring “Jolene” and “9 to 5”; and Copeland Davis’ dazzling piano work during the Quincy Jones tribute.

Comedy also had its moment. George Wallace kept the audience laughing during his acceptance speech, while Luenell brought warmth and her unmistakable humor to a tribute honoring her friend Damian Costa. Loretta Holloway then delivered a soulful performance of “That Lady,” filling the theater with the commanding vocals and emotional presence that defined the evening.

At the heart of the Dream Awards is Buckner’s commitment to recognizing artists while they can personally receive the appreciation. “The Dream Awards grew out of a vision my late husband, Jimmy Payton, had,” she explained. “He believed that entertainers who had shared their remarkable talent for decades deserved to receive their flowers while they were still alive.”

Buckner carried that vision forward after Payton’s passing and named the Visionary Award in his honor. For her, the reward is personal: “The greatest reward is seeing the smiles on these iconic artists’ faces and how grateful they are to be honored — especially the veteran entertainers who paved the way for today’s younger artists.”

Sherry Gordy, daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy, emphasized what sets the celebration apart. “The Dream Awards is the only awards show of its kind in Las Vegas,” she said. “Bringing this level of talent together in one room to honor their achievements is incredible.” Gordy, who received the Jimmy Payton Visionary Award in 2024, added that she was deeply honored by the recognition.

Kathleen Bradley’s Trailblazer Award captured the event’s spirit of gratitude and possibility. The first Black model on "The Price Is Right" reflected, “Sometimes, after many years of hard work and dedication to your career, you finally receive your flowers.” She said she hoped her journey would encourage other young women to follow their dreams and pursue the careers they envision for themselves.

That connection between generations gave the Dream Awards its emotional force. Veteran artists were celebrated not simply for past accomplishments but for the paths they opened, while contemporary performers had the chance to honor the figures who inspired them. The result was more than an awards program — it was an evening of shared history, gratitude and artistic community.

Tony Orlando brought the evening’s meaning into focus. He praised Buckner for following her dream despite the cost and uncertainty of producing such an ambitious show, then marveled at the voices and musicianship he had witnessed. “The talent on that stage was worth far more than the price of admission,” he said, describing the performers as “dream-come-true voices” backed by a “dream-come-true band.”

At 82, Orlando said one of his greatest privileges was simply becoming a member of the audience — watching someone else’s dream come true and hearing the crowd applaud the entertainers gathered in the room.

His final words offered the perfect summary of the Dream Awards and its purpose:

“What we are paying tribute to tonight is something invisible. It is called a dream — and it is bigger than all of us. This happened in a dream city, with a dream band and dream voices, and we were here to witness it.”