The American Heart Association's Red Dress Collection Concert, hosted by actress Laura Linney with performances by Nicole Scherzinger and Amy Grant, officially marked the start of American Heart Month on January 29 in New York City. The event serves as the national marquee event for the Go Red for Women movement, which aims to combat heart disease as the number one killer of women. More than 4 in 10 women in the U.S. have some form of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, a figure expected to grow.
Linney opened the show at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Appel Room by highlighting the complexities of heart health and its impact on families and caregivers, advocating to make women's heart health more visible and personal. The concert builds on the two-decade tradition of the Red Dress Collection fashion show 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 disease.
Following her performance, Amy Grant received the Woman Changing the World award from American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown for her advocacy work. Grant, who was born with a congenital heart defect and underwent open heart surgery in 2020, uses her platform to educate millions about heart disease risk and prevention through public service announcements and national campaigns. Resources to support women's heart health are available at GoRedforWomen.org.
The concert featured a fashion runway component where celebrities walked in red ensembles designed by various fashion houses. Participants included Uzo Aduba, Chlöe Bailey, Selma Blair, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Normani, and Jane Seymour, among others. This element honors the event's origins in fashion while drawing attention to the cause through high-profile visibility.
CVS Health serves as a national sponsor of the Go Red for Women movement, having directed more than $50 million over the past decade to advance women's cardiovascular health, strengthen blood pressure management, and support research and education. The concert also received support from Chase. Additional information about National Wear Red Day can be found at WearRedDay.org.
The implications of this event extend beyond the one-night celebration, highlighting a critical public health issue with significant business and societal impacts. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women, claiming 1 in 3 lives, yet most cardiac events are preventable. For business and technology leaders, the partnership model demonstrated by CVS Health's sustained funding shows how corporate resources can drive health initiatives that potentially reduce healthcare costs and improve workforce productivity. The integration of celebrity influence, fashion, and music creates a powerful awareness campaign that reaches diverse audiences, emphasizing that heart health advocacy requires multifaceted approaches combining medical science, public policy, and cultural engagement.
