Rising country star Stephen Wilson Jr. joins Big Slick guest list for first time
Rising country star Stephen Wilson Jr., who just received his first Academy of Country Music award, will head to Kansas City at the end of the month as a celebrity guest of the annual Big Slick fundraiser for Children’s Mercy.
Last week ACM officials presented Wilson the Visual Media of the Year Award for the track “Cuckoo” on his album, “Son of Dad.”
Wilson is among the first guests announced Monday for this year’s Big Slick Party and Show on Saturday, May 30, at T-Mobile Center. Expect the guest list to be rolled out over the coming days.
“We are thrilled to kick off the 2026 Big Slick Celebrity Weekend guest announcements with one of country music’s ‘most electrifying new artists’ according to Rolling Stone,” Big Slick organizers said on Instagram.
Wilson brought his current “Gary the Torch” tour to Kansas City’s Midland Theatre last month.
Stand-up comedian Tom Papa will also join Big Slick for the first time. The actor and host of the “Breaking Bread” podcast is known for his Netflix comedy specials and appearances with another funny guy, Jerry Seinfeld. Papa is currently touring with his comedy act.
Trivia time: Papa is an accomplished baker and cookbook author who often incorporates his bread-making skills into his comedy and live shows.
Two Big Slick veterans round out the first guest announcements: Adam Scott and Today show weather anchor Al Roker.
Another trivia note: Roker is a cousin to Lenny Kravitz, Big Slick officials shared.
Big Slick is hosted every year by Kansas City’s talented group of homegrown celebrities — Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Heidi Gardner, Rob Riggle and Eric Stonestreet.
This year’s Big Slick weekend looks a little different.
And that’s not just because of a new circus theme that teasingly suggests that someone, at some point, might ride a unicycle or walk a tightrope — both of which we’re sure people would pay money to see.
Another change was caused by FIFA World Cup soccer events. The event’s popular celebrity softball game has been scratched and replaced by a private VIP party on Friday, May 29, but is expected to return next year.
The softball game usually takes place at Kauffman Stadium before a Royals game. But organizers earlier announced that “due to scheduling limitations around Kansas City’s exciting FIFA World Cup bid, Big Slick is rolling into town when the Kansas City Royals are out of town.”
Tickets for the replacement limited-capacity “experience” at Kauffman Stadium start at $3,500. Tickets for the main event at T-Mobile start at $100.
The VIP evening “offers face-to-face time with Big Slick’s celebrity hosts and their friends alongside curated entertainment, conversation and music throughout the night,” organizers have said.
Tickets to both are available at bigslickkc.org. Tickets to the T-Mobile show are also at T-MobileCenter.com.
All proceeds from the Big Slick events benefit pediatric cancer research at Children’s Mercy. Big Slick has raised more than $30 million for the hospital.
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