The Broadway star will perform a special tribute to Dolly Parton at GLAAD's New York Gala on Friday 23 October, bringing together theatre, music and LGBTQ+ advocacy. With Bruce Cohen receiving the Vito Russo Award and Alex Newell also performing, the evening promises a warm, starry celebration of allyship and representation.

Essential Takeaways

  • Special tribute: Anika Noni Rose will honour Dolly Parton during GLAAD's New York Gala.
  • Major award: Oscar and Tony-winning producer Bruce Cohen will receive the Vito Russo Award.
  • Star-studded line-up: Ariana DeBose will present the award, while Alex Newell will perform live.
  • Experienced host: Emmy and GLAAD Media Award winner Ross Mathews will lead the evening.
  • Where to enquire: Ticket and event information is available through GLAAD's philanthropy team.

Anika Noni Rose is bringing Broadway sparkle

Anika Noni Rose is set to take the stage at GLAAD's New York Gala for a tribute to Dolly Parton, a performer whose warmth and public support have made her a familiar ally to LGBTQ+ audiences.

Rose brings plenty of musical theatre authority to the moment. She won a Tony Award for her performance in Caroline, or Change, and her career has moved comfortably between Broadway, film, television and voice work. According to BroadwayWorld, she's also known worldwide as the voice of Princess Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog. [2]

That combination makes her a natural choice for a gala performance. She can deliver theatrical polish, but there's also a softer, storybook quality to her voice that should suit a tribute to Parton rather beautifully. [3]

Why Dolly Parton's allyship remains so resonant

Parton's relationship with LGBTQ+ audiences has long been part of her wider public image as an entertainer who champions kindness, individuality and acceptance. A tribute at a GLAAD event places those themes firmly in the spotlight, rather than treating them as a footnote to the evening's celebrity appeal. [4]

The choice also feels culturally savvy. Parton's songs have travelled through generations and genres, from country radio to Broadway stages and drag performances. Her music often carries a plain-spoken emotional punch, which is precisely the sort of material that can turn a formal awards event into something more intimate. [5]

For Rose, the performance adds another chapter to a career already marked by representation. As Princess Tiana, she helped give young audiences a landmark Disney heroine, while her stage work has repeatedly placed complex women at the centre of major productions. [6]

Bruce Cohen will receive the Vito Russo Award

The evening's principal honour will go to producer Bruce Cohen, who is due to receive the Vito Russo Award. Ariana DeBose will present the prize, adding another Oscar-winning name to an already high-profile line-up. [2]

The award is named after Vito Russo, the LGBTQ+ film historian, AIDS activist and GLAAD co-founder. It's presented to an LGBTQ+ media professional who has made a meaningful contribution to advancing LGBTQ+ acceptance, so Cohen's recognition carries both industry prestige and historical weight. [3]

Cohen's career spans film, theatre and television, including Oscar and Tony wins and an Emmy nomination. The award underlines how much progress often depends on people working behind the scenes as well as those in front of the camera. [4]

Alex Newell and Ross Mathews add extra energy

The gala won't rely on one big performance. Alex Newell, a Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winner, will also appear for a live musical number, bringing the kind of vocal force that can fill a room before the first chorus is over. [5]

Ross Mathews will host the event. Known for his television work and for previous GLAAD Media Award recognition, Mathews should bring a lighter, conversational touch to the formal proceedings. That balance matters at advocacy events, where the mood needs room for both celebration and reflection. [6]

Together, the line-up gives the evening a broad theatrical range: Rose's polished tribute, Newell's exuberant live performance and Mathews's familiar hosting style. It sounds less like a conventional ceremony and more like a compact evening of Broadway-style entertainment. [7]

What guests can expect from the New York Gala

GLAAD's New York Gala is scheduled for Friday 23 October. Guests can expect a programme built around visibility, professional recognition and live performance, with the tribute to Parton providing its emotional centre. [2]

For audiences considering attending, the appeal is straightforward. There's the chance to see established theatre performers in a room shaped around LGBTQ+ advocacy, while the awards themselves acknowledge the people helping representation move forward in media. [3]

Ticket and event enquiries are available through GLAAD's philanthropy team. And for anyone who has ever found comfort in a Dolly Parton lyric or inspiration in a Broadway performance, this should be a particularly resonant night. [4]

A gala can be polished, but the best ones still feel human; this line-up suggests one with plenty of heart.

It's a starry celebration of music, visibility and the enduring power of allyship.

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