The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement officially launched American Heart Month with the Red Dress Collection Concert in New York City on January 29, featuring host Laura Linney and musical performances by Nicole Scherzinger and Amy Grant. The event serves as the national marquee event for the movement, which aims to address cardiovascular disease as the number one killer of women.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 4 in 10 women in the U.S. have some form of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, with this figure expected to grow. The concert builds on the two-decade tradition of the Red Dress Collection fashion show originally founded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's The Heart Truth program, now incorporating musical performances and personal stories from those affected by cardiovascular conditions.
Host Laura Linney opened the event by highlighting the complexities of heart health and its impact on families and caregivers, advocating to make women's heart health more visible, understandable, and personal. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Amy Grant performed several songs including "Baby Baby" and "Every Heartbeat," wearing designs by Tadashi Shoji on the red carpet and Maison Tai for her performance.
Following her performance, American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer Nancy Brown presented Grant with the Woman Changing the World award in recognition of her commitment to the organization's mission. Grant, who was born with a congenital heart defect and underwent open heart surgery in 2020, has become a powerful advocate for heart health, sharing her personal story to inspire women to prioritize their well-being through public service announcements and national campaigns.
The concert was headlined by Grammy-nominated, Tony Award-winning performer Nicole Scherzinger, who performed a set including Broadway hit "Don't Rain On My Parade" and "Purple Rain." The event maintained its fashion origins with numerous celebrities walking the runway in red ensembles created by fashion designers, including Uzo Aduba wearing Naked Wardrobe, Selma Blair wearing Christian Siriano, and Renée Elise Goldsberry wearing designs by CD Greene on the red carpet and Ricca Sposa on the runway.
CVS Health serves as a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement, having directed more than $50 million in funding over the past decade to advance women's cardiovascular health, strengthen blood pressure management, and support lifesaving research and education. The Red Dress Collection Concert also receives support from Chase.
Resources to support women's heart health at every age and stage of life are available at https://GoRedforWomen.org, with additional information about National Wear Red Day at https://WearRedDay.org. The American Heart Association continues to work toward equitable health in all communities through groundbreaking research, public health advocacy, and resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
