By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA (AP) — It didn’t take long to figure out Maya Angelou was in the building.
The author and poet was met with a chorus of cheers and camera flashes from onlookers as she moved across the red carpet into her 80th birthday celebration at Atlanta’s Woodruff Arts Center Sunday night.
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| Video: Angelou Celebrates 80th Birthday with Star-studded Gala FOX 5’s Darryl Carver Reports |
When asked how she felt about the star-studded gala thrown in her honor, she said, “It reminds me of how blessed I am.”
The pricey soiree focused speakers and performances on many of the areas where Angelou has spent her career: dance, spirituality and human rights. The evening included performances by soul singer Candi Staton, gospel star Daron Norwood and comedian Chris Tucker.
It was hosted by filmmaker Tyler Perry and actress LynnWhitfield. Other guests included R&B legend Quincy Jones, rapper T.I. and Bernice King, daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
The Atlanta gala was thrown by civil rights icon Andrew Young and his family, who are longtime friends with Angelou. Proceeds from the tickets—ranging from $100 to $500 — benefit a southwest Atlanta YMCA teen center bearing her name.
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