Ashley Williams and Nikki DeLoach Host Sixth Annual 'Dance Party To End ALZ' Benefiting the Alzheimer's Association

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Nov 13, 2023, 11:56 ET

– Performances by Jay Allen and Kylie Morgan, Melinda Doolittle, Charles Esten, Paul Freeman, Paul Greene, Ginna Claire Mason, MaRynn Taylor, Noah Thompson, Alicia Witt, and more covering hits from the early 2000s –

– Event raises awareness and funds for the Alzheimer's Association research grant program –

*Photos available *

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark stars Ashley Williams and Nikki DeLoach hosted the sixth annual Dance Party to End ALZ on Sunday, November 12 at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon, which raised more than $300,000 for the Alzheimer's Association research grant program. The event founded by Kimberly Williams-Paisley was emceed by Apple Music radio host Kelleigh Bannen.

Williams and DeLoach opened the evening with a surprise performance of "Party In the U.S.A." The dynamic duo welcomed guests and shared why co-hosting the event meant so much to them after both losing a parent to dementia. Williams' mom, Linda, passed away with Alzheimer's in 2016, and DeLoach's dad, David, passed away with Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia, in 2021.

Dressed in 2000s fashion, performers took to the stage covering throwback hits from the era. Accompanied by Wildhorse Saloon's house band Three Lane, performances included:

Jay Allen's take on "Kryptonite." Allen was then joined by wife and country music artist Kylie Morgan to perform his song on "No Present Like The Time"
Melinda Doolittle's versions of "Crazy In Love" and "Since You've Been Gone"
Charles Esten's channeled Billie Joe Armstrong for "Wake Me Up When September Ends"
Paul Freeman's rendition of "Mr. Brightside"
Paul Greene's spin on "Seven Nation Army"
Ginna Claire Mason's version of "Before He Cheats"
MaRynn Taylor's rendition of "Complicated"
Noah Thompson's take on "Move Along"
Alicia Witt channeled Britney Spears for "Lucky"
Hallmark stars group number to "I Gotta Feeling"
And a group finale to "Beautiful Day"

"We are beyond grateful to the Nashville community, performers, generous sponsors and attendees near and far who joined us at the sixth annual Dance Party to End ALZ," said co-hosts Ashley Williams and Nikki DeLoach. "Everyone coming together for this cause means the world to us and our families. Together, we raised awareness and funds to support the Alzheimer's Association's research grant program, which is helping us get one step closer to ending Alzheimer's and all other dementia."

Event committee included:

Ashley Williams, actor and director
Nikki DeLoach, actor, producer and writer
Annie Howell, chief communications officer, Hallmark Media
Blake McDaniel, music touring agent, CAA
Andrew Walker, actor, producer, co-founder of Little West
Jay Williams, CEO & apiarist of Williams Honey Farm

Generous sponsors included:

Hallmark Media
Kimberly Williams-Paisley & Brad Paisley
Boot Barn
Sidekick Therapy Partners
The Buffaloe Family
DeBartolo Family Foundation
Denise Cummins
Rosenthal Family Foundation
Andrew & Cassandra Walker
Nikki DeLoach & Ryan Goodell
The Graham Family Charitable Trust
Brandon and Karen Jondle family and Tom and Beth Jost family
Michael and Sarah Lorance family
In Loving Memory of Micheal MacDowell, beloved Husband, father and friend
Harley Neuman & Daniel Lam
"Paisley Park Girls" in honor of Beth Machado
Michael Yu & Erin Zervos Yu
R3 Stem Cell/R3 Anti Aging
Romance University
Southbound Tequila
Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Williams Honey Farm
The Ken and Beth Dunn Family Foundation
CAA
Empathy Studios
Paul Greene & Kate Austin
McKellar/Sveslosky & Hart
Lillie Pawluk
Sandy & Doug Paisley
Jennifer Wayne

Celebrities in attendance included:

Benjamin Ayres
Brooke D'Orsay
Cindy Busby
Danica McKeller
Erich Hover
Erin Cahill
Jen Lilley
Jesse Hutch
Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Kristoffer Polaha
Melissa Joan Hart
Riley Weston
Sarah Drew
Trevor Donovan

Funds raised through the Dance Party to End ALZ will directly support the Alzheimer's Association's research grant program. To date, Dance Party to End ALZ has raised more than $2.1M to fund diverse and exciting Alzheimer's research — from studying the impacts of genetics and sleep on the brain, to developing a smartwatch-based intervention for dementia risk reduction.

For more information and to donate, visit alz.org/DanceParty.

About the Alzheimer's Association^®The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia^®. For more information, visit alz.org or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association