With that level of star power in one room, of course, the fashion delivered. It felt like a warm-up to awards season.
While the ceremony celebrates lifetime achievements and industry contributions, the arrivals at the Ray Dolby Ballroom offered a different kind of spotlight. This year’s honorees formed a powerhouse group. Dolly Parton received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, while Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas were each honored with honorary Oscars. The room was packed with familiar faces, longtime collaborators and industry legends who came to support them.
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Parton, who has been addressing health concerns and postponed her Las Vegas residency earlier this year, accepted her award via video. Lily Tomlin, her Nine to Five co-star, presented the award and turned a tricky teleprompter into an unintentional comedy routine, winning over the entire crowd. Andra Day delivered a soulful, stripped-down performance of “Jolene,” underscoring Parton’s influence without a single film credit needed.
Cruise, now more than four decades into his career, earned his honorary Oscar for his impact on filmmaking. Alejandro G. Iñárritu presented the award, and Cruise used part of his speech to ask everyone in the room who had ever worked with him to stand. This moment revealed just how many careers have crossed paths with him.
Debbie Allen’s segment mixed humor and honesty, opening with a nod to Cruise’s iconic Risky Business scene before reflecting on the barriers she faced and the mentors who helped her push through them. Cynthia Erivo presented her award. Wynn Thomas, honored for his contributions to production design, shared a moving story about growing up in poverty in Philadelphia and escaping through books, eventually becoming the creative mind behind films like Hidden Figures. Octavia Spencer presented his award.
Will Arnett joked about how the Governors Awards are never televised, adding that people in entertainment love winning awards as long as no one sees them win.
With that level of star power in one room, of course, the fashion delivered. It felt like a warm-up to awards season.
Below, our favorite looks from the night:
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