Coming to Big Slick: Kansas City’s ‘American Idol’ winner, a CNN star and King Arthur
David Cook and CNN anchor Jake Tapper will return to Big Slick Celebrity Weekend, organizers announced Thursday as the guest list grows for the annual star-filled benefit for Children’s Mercy.
Cook, a Blue Springs native and “American Idol” winner, has become a regular, performing at the party and auction at the T-Mobile Center. Tapper, of CNN’s “The Lead,” last appeared in 2021, the second year the fundraiser was held virtually because of the pandemic. Tapper’s wife is from St. Joseph.
Other guests announced Thursday are also Big Slick veterans: comedian Sarah Tiana (“Lights Out With David Spade”) and comedian Seth Herzog, the event’s de facto class clown.
Organizers began rolling out the guest list on Monday and planned to announce a few names at a time this week and next. So far, newcomers include “Wagon Wheel” singer Darius Rucker; British actor Bradley James, who played King Arthur in the BBC series “Merlin” and a Viking ruler in Netflix’s “Vikings: Valhalla”; and comedian Tim Heidecker from the Showtime comedy “Moonbase 8.”
Hometown celebrities Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner host the event. This year, “Saturday Night Live” cast member and Kansas City native Heidi Gardner will become the event’s first female co-host. She takes on a bigger role as Big Slick tries to top a record $3.5 million raised last June for the Cancer Center at Children’s Mercy.
They’ll join their guests at a softball game at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, June 2, and the Big Slick Party & Show at T-Mobile Center on Saturday, June 3.
The list of returning guests so far also includes Fox Sports commentators Charissa Thompson and Peter Schrager; musician Al Yankovic; actor Joe Lo Truglio (“Reno 911!,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”); musicians and TV personalities The Potash Twins; magician Blake Vogt; actress Ginger Gonzaga (CBS’ “True Lies,” “She-Hulk” and “Attorney at Law’); Kevin Pollak (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”); hot wings aficionado Sean Evans, host of YouTube’s “Hot Ones”; Kevin Rahm (“Madam Secretary,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Mad Men”); and Irish actor/comedian Aisling Bea, who starred with Rudd in the Netflix series “Living With Yourself.”
No word yet on whether Missouri native Sheryl Crow will reprise her roof-raising performance at last year’s party and show.
This year’s events are:
▪ The Big Slick Celebrity Classic softball game will be played at Kauffman Stadium on June 2 before the Royals play the Colorado Rockies. Anyone with a game ticket can watch.
▪ The Big Slick Party & Show is the weekend’s main event at 8 p.m. June 3. Tickets are $75-$125 for standard lower level and $375 for upgraded seats with Founders Club access including open bar. Tickets are at bigslickkc.org and T-MobileCenter.com.
