Oprah Rolls Out Red Carpet for Tribute

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) _ Oprah Winfrey rolled out the carpet for a lavish tribute to pioneering black women, then strolled it herself in a red Vera Wang ball gown. <br/><br/>Guests including Usher,

Wednesday, May 4th 2005, 8:40 am

By: News On 6

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) _ Oprah Winfrey rolled out the carpet for a lavish tribute to pioneering black women, then strolled it herself in a red Vera Wang ball gown.

Guests including Usher, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were on hand for the ball Saturday night at the seaside Bacara Resort and Spa.

The talk show host joked with friends and praised the 25 honorees, including Coretta Scott King, Diana Ross, Maya Angelou and Cicely Tyson.

``These are women who, when I was growing up, made a difference for me,'' Winfrey told reporters. ``The first time I saw Diana Ross and the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show, it changed my life.''

Winfrey also linked the older black stars with their younger counterparts in a more intimate gathering Friday night at her Montecito home.

``There was nobody hating on nobody,'' said singer Patti LaBelle, who attended the party along with Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys.

Others at Saturday's bash included Gladys Knight, Halle Berry, Ashanti and California First Lady Maria Shriver.

Winfrey said it was a no-brainer to host her tribute in Santa Barbara.

``If you're going to have it, it might as well be in paradise,'' she said.