LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 2, 2026)— The Lexington Opera House was filled with music, laughter and plenty of talent as adults ages 60 and older from across Central Kentucky and beyond took the stage for the 7th Annual Morning Pointe Foundation Seniors Got Talent Lexington, raising more than $36,000 to support the next generation of senior care professionals and the families who care for them.
Nearly 350 family members, friends, sponsors and community members gathered for the evening, cheering on performers ages 60 and older as they shared talents they have cultivated throughout their lives.
Taking home both first place and the People’s Choice Award was 73-year-old singer Jerry Newby. Newby said he was surprised to receive both honors and credited his family for supporting him throughout his preparation for the performance.
“I love being on the stage. I’ve been doing it for quite a while,” Newby said. “Just to see people out there listening and see their reactions from when you start to sing brings warmth to my heart.”
Newby performed a song his sister had encouraged him to sing after he previously performed it at a family wedding.
“I want to first thank my family for sticking with me so long. They listened to that song so many times to get it right,” Newby said.
Glitter Bugs, a dance troupe ranging in age from 67 to 90, earned second place, while 73-year-old opera singer Joannie Penner received third place.
The evening also featured a Resident Art Show, giving residents from Morning Pointe communities an opportunity to showcase their creativity. Brenda Frederick, 84, a painter at The Lantern at Morning Pointe, Danville, was named the overall winner, while Patricia Chipps, 95, a painter at Morning Pointe of Danville Assisted Living, received the People’s Choice Award.
In addition to ticket sales and sponsorship support, guests contributed nearly $2,700 through People’s Choice voting, helping bring the evening’s total fundraising impact to more than $36,000.
Funds raised through Seniors Got Talent support the Morning Pointe Foundation’s caregiver education programs and scholarships for students pursuing careers in nursing, social work, therapy and culinary arts at partner schools throughout Kentucky.
That mission hits close to home in Kentucky. Foundation scholarship partnerships include Eastern Kentucky University, Bluegrass Community & Technical College’s Winchester-Clark County Campus, Ashland Community & Technical College, Kentucky State University, Jefferson Community & Technical College and Owensboro Community & Technical College, helping prepare students across the Commonwealth for careers that will support seniors and their families.
For judge Jack Lee Wolman Jr., watching older adults perform on the historic Lexington Opera House stage offered a perspective that extended well beyond the competition.
“I was kind of wrapping my head around [turning 50] a little bit, but when I see people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s performing on the Opera House stage here in Lexington, it makes me think that if they can do that, I can do anything,” Wolman said. “And so that’s very inspiring for me.”
For Lexington audience members Lorraine and Ken Bauschke, the event was also a celebration of the joy that comes from seeing older adults continue to pursue the things they love. The Bauschkes, who have attended approximately 10 Seniors Got Talent events in different locations, said the camaraderie among the performers is one of the things that keeps bringing them back.
“We feel that the camaraderie among the people performing really shows how much they enjoy it,” the Bauschkes said. “They’re happy to perform.”
The couple also appreciated the opportunity to see the arts and older adults celebrated together.
“We think that’s one of the best things about aging is supporting the arts as well as supporting people,” they said.
“Every Seniors Got Talent show reminds us that talent doesn’t have an age limit, and neither does the desire to share what you love with others,” said Miranda Perez, executive director of the Morning Pointe Foundation. “These performers stepped onto the stage, shared their talents and inspired everyone in the room, while the generosity of the Lexington community will help us invest in the next generation of senior care professionals. That makes this evening especially meaningful.”
The evening was made possible through the support of sponsors, volunteers, judges, performers, artists and community members who came together to celebrate the talents and passions of older adults.
Morning Pointe Seniors Got Talent gives adults ages 60 and older the opportunity to showcase their talents while raising funds to support the Foundation’s mission of advancing care and strengthening senior services.
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Morning Pointe Senior Living, headquartered in Ooltewah, Tennessee, was founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in four southeastern states, including GA, IN, KY & TN. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
