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Kate Hudson celebrated the 25th anniversary of her breakout role on All-Star Famous with her family, including mom Goldie Hawn, dad Kurt Russell, and brother Oliver Hudson, at the 2025 Will Rogers Pioneer of the Year Dinner.
The event, held on Wednesday, October 8, was held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The key venue is also where the Golden Globe Awards are held each year (and where Hudson won a Golden Globe for her role in Almost Famous 25 years ago).
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE ahead of the dinner, Hudson gave a nod to one of the film’s most iconic lines, uttered by her character Penny. “It’s all happening.”
“It’s starting to feel like I’m putting it on my forehead, you know what it means?” Hudson said of the line, “I could be anywhere in the world and someone could yell that to me. Or they’d say, ‘Miss Penny Lane, Miss Penny Lane.'” I can’t believe what generation we are now. ”
Hudson added, “It’s been 25 years…I’m amazed at the vitality of it. It keeps renewing itself and the kids just love it. It inspires them. So everything is happening. It’s a never-ending tag in my life.”
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All-Star Famous follows teenage music journalist William Miller (played by Patrick Fugit), who is hired by Rolling Stone magazine in 1973 to profile a fictional rock band called Stillwater, unaware that he is only 15 years old. While joining the band, William develops a kinship with Hudson’s Penny Lane, a teenager who acts with the rock group as a self-proclaimed “Band-Aid.”
For this role, Hudson was nominated for an Oscar and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
Hudson attended the event and was seen smiling and chatting over dinner with her mother, Horne, and “Par” Russell (whom Horne, 79, has been dating since 1983), who were sitting next to her.
The event was hosted by Ike Barinholtz and honored Hudson for his career accomplishments and contributions to philanthropy. Almost Famous writer and director Cameron Crowe introduced Hudson and presented her with the award.
Hudson’s philanthropy includes participation in the Horn Foundation’s MindUP program, where she serves on the board of directors and advocates for and supports fundraising for mental health prevention programs that provide students, educators, and families with mental fitness tools to build greater emotional literacy and improve resiliency to face challenges with optimism, strength, and compassion.
Her philanthropic and humanitarian work also includes organizations such as the United Nations World Food Program, Baby2Baby, Operation Smile, and many others.
The Will Rogers Film Pioneer Foundation, named for philanthropist and entertainer Will Rogers, perpetuates his legacy through three programs: Brave Beginnings, the Will Rogers Institute, and the Pioneer Support Fund.
The dinner raised $1.3 million for the Pioneers Support Fund. “This will allow us to provide more financial support and social services to active and retired members of the film distribution and exhibition community as the need continues to grow,” said Kyle Davis, president of distribution for Bleecker Street Media and chair of the Pioneers Support Fund Committee.
The Pioneer Assistance Fund (PAF) provides assistance to individuals in film distribution, exhibition, and industry vendors who have suffered an illness, injury, or life-altering event. Social workers provide confidential counseling and financial assistance on a short-term or long-term basis to help individuals resume their lives with dignity, health, and purpose.
With a tradition spanning more than 75 years, the Pioneer of the Year Award recognizes members of the film industry who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, community service and philanthropic efforts.
Past Pioneer of the Year recipients include Greta Gerwig, Eric Lomis, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Tom Cruise, Donna Langley, Sheryl Boone Isaacs, Elizabeth Banks, Jim Gianopulos, Dick Cook, Michael D. Eisner, Alan Horn, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Shelly Lansing, Frank G. Wilson, and more. Mancuso, Sumner Redstone, Terry Semel, Tom Sherac, Jack Valenti, Jack Warner, Daryl F. Zanuck, and Cecil B. DeMille.
