DERBY CELEBS

Barnstable Brown 2016 releases celebrity list

Kirby Adams
Louisville Courier Journal
Model Kate Upton arrives at Stella McCartney Autumn 2016 Presentation at Amoeba Music on January 12, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

It's shaping up to be another once in a lifetime musical mash-up at the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala.

Months before the Alabama Shakes play Louisville's Forecastle Music Festival, the Grammy-winning blues rock band will take the stage Derby Eve in a far more intimate setting – Patrica Barnstable Brown's backyard.

Also expected to take a turn on stage at the infamous Derby Eve party – Kid Rock, Boyz II MenJoey Fatone, Richie Sambora, Clay Walker, Voice winner and Kentucky's own Jordan Smith. And that's just the beginning of a list that is heavy with star-power.

"That's what makes it so exciting. You don't know who is going to jump up on stage and perform together. It's something different every year," said Barnstable Brown, who is throwing the Derby Eve Gala for the 29th year with her twin sister, Priscilla Barnstable.

"I don't ask these guests to get up onstage but they do every year and I think that's what makes this party so genuine. These performers want to give back," she said.

The celebrity-packed gala, known for its musical extravaganza, has raised and donated about $11.2 million to the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Research Center at the University of Kentucky over the past nine years.

Barnstable Brown said her 2016 guest list also includes: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Kate Upton, Chicago Fire actor Taylor Kinney (who's plus-one could be fiance Lady Gaga – we're just speculating but you never know!), and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who plans to show up with a posse of Super Bowl Championship teammates.

Who's coming to Barnstable Brown Gala 2016?

World Champion alpine skier Lindsey Vonn and another gold medalist Olympian, Bode Miller, will also attend. Arrow actor Stephen Amell, who you'll soon see in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, and former model Elin Nordegren have accepted invites.

Oprah Winfrey's best gal-pal and co-host of CBS This Morning, Gayle King, is heading Barnstable Brown's Highland's mansion, plus journalist Megyn Kelly of Fox News is expected to attend.

On Derby Eve, those lucky enough to have scored a ticket will rub elbows with athletes and entertainment celebrities, dance within a few feet of the stage where chart-topping musicians perform once in a lifetime duets and dine on elegant cuisine while tipping back top shelf cocktails under twinkling white lights.

The party begins at 8 p.m., but on-lookers begin lining the street outside 1700 Spring Dr. hours before the first celebrity arrives.

Contact reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or (502) 582-4336.

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2016 Barnstable Brown Gala guest list 

Kate Upton - model and actress, known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and films "Tower Heist" and "The Other Woman"

Kid Rock - Grammy-nominated singer, rapper, songwriter, musician, record producer and actor

Lindsey Vonn - Olympic Gold medalist and world champion alpine skier

Alabama Shakes - Grammy-winning blues rock band

Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers quarterback

Randall Cobb - Green Bay Packers

Clay Matthews - Green Bay Packers

Megyn Kelly - Fox News host of The Kelly File

Elin Nordegren - former model and ex-wife of Tiger Woods 

Jon Voight - actor, known for "Mission: Impossible," "Heat," "Transformers" and "Midnight Cowboy"

Boyz II Men - Grammy Award-winning R&B group

Stephen Amell - actor, CW's "Arrow"

Taylor Kinney - actor and model, "Chicago Fire"

Brian McKnight - 16 time Grammy-nominated R& B artist

Richie Sambora - lead guitarist with the rock band Bon Jovi 

Orianthi - singer-songwriter and guitarist

Jordan Smith - singer, winner of The Voice, season nine

Terri Clark - Country music artist

Tanya Tucker - Country music artist

Travis Tritt - Country music artist

Robert Herjavec - entrepreneur and co-shot ABC's "Shark Tank"

Kym Johnson - professional dancer on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars"

Liam McIntyre - actor, "Spartacus: Vengeance" and "Spartacus: War of the Damned"

Gayle King - co-host CBS This Morning and an editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine

Johnny Galecki - actor, "Big Bang Theory" and "Roseanne"

Gretchen Wilson - Country music artist 

Clay Walker - Country music artist

Mary Wilson - singer/performer 

Montgomery Gentry - Country music duo

Bode Miller - United States Olympic skier

Joey Fatone - pop music artist and actor, original member of the band NSYNC

Taylor Dayne - pop music artist and actress

Sean Payton - coach of New Orleans Saints

Teddy Bridgewater - Quarterback The Minnesota Vikings and former U of L quarterback

Star Jones - actress and producer, The View and The Star Jones Reynolds Report

Ray J - R&B Singer

Crystal Taliefero - Billy Joel band member

Jay Williams - ESPN

Charissa Thompson - EXTRA and FOX Sports Live

Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns

Melvin Booker - Retired NBA player

D'Angelo Russell - Los Angeles Lakers

Julius Randle - Los Angeles Lakers

Terrence Jones - Houston Rockets

Nerlens Noel – Philadelphia 76ers and former University of Kentucky player

Alex Poythress - UK basketball

Tyler Ulis - UK basketball

Skal Labissiere - UK basketball 

Jamal Murray - UK basketball 

Trey Lewis - University of Louisville basketball 

Damion Lee - U of L basketball 

Russ Smith - NBA, former U of L basketball

Luke Hancock - former U of L basketball

Larry Birkhead -  former partner of American Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith

Explosions of color and detail were around every corner at the 26th Annual Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Party on Friday night.