Television had a notable presence among the honorees at the 51st Annual Gracie Awards, as the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation marked its 75th anniversary on Tuesday night at the Beverly Wilshire, honoring women who have reshaped media through survival, reinvention, and the audacity to tell stories the industry too often leaves untold.
Katherine LaNasa was recognized for her performance in the HBOMax medical drama The Pitt. Monica Lewinsky accepted her award for Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky to a standing ovation. Tina Knowles received a Gracie, presented by Kelly Rowland, for her audiobook Matriarch, and Senator Lauren Book accepted on behalf of Lauren’s Kids Foundation, reflecting on surviving childhood abuse.
The evening’s most unexpected moment came when Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance to honor journalist Adai Lamar for her coverage of the Los Angeles County fires. Singer Mickey Guyton also performed.
Andie MacDowell received the Gracie Icon Award, reflecting on aging publicly in an industry that rarely celebrates it. “I have had the absolute audacity to age,” she told the crowd. “And I love everyone who has embraced it as much as I have.”
The ceremony was hosted by two-time Emmy-nominated actress and producer Yvette Nicole Brown. AWMF President Becky Brooks framed the evening around the organization’s founding mission. “When we celebrate women in media, we’re not just giving awards,” Brooks said. “We’re saying: ‘Your work matters, your voice matters.'”
Local and student award recipients will be honored at the Gracie Awards Luncheon on June 16 at Cipriani’s in New York City.
