The American Heart Association’s Red Dress Concert once again proved that fashion, music, and celebrity influence can be powerful forces for good. The highly anticipated event brought together an extraordinary lineup of performers, actors, advocates, and cultural icons all united by a single mission: raising awareness about heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women.
This year’s talent roster read like a who’s who of entertainment and pop culture. Leading the evening was Cassie Donegan, the 2026 Miss America, whose platform continues to spotlight women’s health and advocacy. Actress Alexandra Breckenridge (Virgin River, This Is Us) and Ali Ahn (The Diplomat, Agatha All Along) brought Hollywood elegance to the stage, while digital star and Love Island Season 7 winner Amaya Papaya represented the next generation of influential creators.
Laura Linney attends the The American Heart Association’s Red Dress Collection Concert 2026 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert)
Music took center stage with unforgettable performances from Grammy-winning legend Amy Grant, alongside pop powerhouses Bella Poarch, Chlöe Bailey, Nicole Scherzinger, Normani, and Renée Elise Goldsberry. Their voices amplified not just sound, but a message of empowerment, resilience, and action.
The evening was equally elevated by acclaimed actresses including Edie Falco, Jane Seymour, Laura Linney, Uzo Aduba, Selma Blair, Sasha Pieterse, and Christina Chang, each lending star power and personal passion to the cause. Sports journalist Jen Hale, a heart disease survivor herself, stood as a powerful reminder of why awareness and education are critical.
Nicole Scherzinger attends The American Heart Association’s Red Dress Collection Concert 2026 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert)
Adding a heartfelt family moment, Kandi Burruss and daughter Riley Burruss appeared together, underscoring the importance of knowing family history and advocating across generations.
The red carpet was equally impactful, welcoming special guests and longtime advocates such as Susan Lucci and Star Jones, both heart disease survivors who continue to use their voices to educate and inspire. Reality TV icons NeNe Leakes and Lauren Speed-Hamilton, digital creator and mental health advocate Elyse Myers, and country singer Ashley Cooke, also a heart disease survivor, rounded out the evening with authenticity and purpose.
Beyond the glamour, the American Heart Association highlighted urgent truths: cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women, and significant disparities persist—especially for women of color—in access to care, research representation, and lifesaving interventions. Alarmingly, women are less likely to receive bystander CPR than men, contributing to lower survival rates during sudden cardiac arrest.
Renée Elise Goldsberry walks onstage at the The American Heart Association’s Red Dress Collection Concert 2026 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert)
The Red Dress Collection Concert was more than an event-it was a call to action. By encouraging women to know their numbers, understand their family history, and learn Hands-Only CPR, the American Heart Association reminded everyone in the room and watching that awareness saves lives, and advocacy starts with each of us.