Keep Memory Alive Honors Blake Shelton At 27th Annual ‘Power Of Love’ Gala

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Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

Blake Shelton was honored by the Keep Memory Alive organization at its 27th annual “Power of Love” gala on May 10 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Those on hand to celebrate Shelton included Gwen Stefani, Jay Allen, Colbie Caillat, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Gary LeVox, Cassadee Pope and Jay Pharaoh.

The “Power of Love” gala helps generate funds to enable the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to find, fund and facilitate the most effective and innovative research, treatment and educational support programming for patients and their families affected by brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple system atrophy and multiple sclerosis.

The Ruvos family presented Shelton with the Lou Ruvo Philanthropic Award for his charitable work, praising Shelton for, “living a life of true generosity and giving so freely to so many causes.”

Allen delivered a moving rendition of his viral hit song “Blank Stares,” inspired by his mother’s battle with the disease during the event, and Pharaoh then treated the audience to a comedy set before the artists performed a mix of originals and covers of Shelton’s songs. The night culminated in Shelton taking the stage to perform “Sangria,” “Ol’ Red” and leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Sweet Caroline” from Neil Diamond, the 2020 “Power of Love” honoree. Stefani then joined him for the closing duet “Nobody But You.”

Other notable guests in attendance included Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, Crystal Minkoff, Rob Minkoff, Meredith Marks, Deniece Williams, Tommy Thayer, Mark Davis, Elaine Wynn, Jeffrey Soffer, Steven Lagos and Maria Shriver, founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic and chief visionary and strategic advisor of the new Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center.

Guests also bid on once-in-a-lifetime silent and live auction items during the evening. Even Shelton got in on the action, bidding and winning a walk-on role in a Mark Wahlberg movie and later joking that he was a movie star.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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