Celebrities hit St. Louis for Nelly-hosted event

ST. LOUIS -- This weekend will be full of fireworks in St. Louis, and a few A-list celebrities will be watching them.

Rap star Nelly is holding a party and black-tie event in his home town with a guest list that includes Janet Jackson, Usher, Evander Holyfield, Jermaine Dupri and Chingy.

Meanwhile, NBA stars Allen Iverson and LeBron James were in St. Louis for a Friday night party hosted by local pro Larry Hughes.

On Sunday, Nelly will hold the Black and White Ball at the St. Louis Contemporary Art Museum, the same weekend as the Essence Music Festival in Houston brings out other urban celebrities, including Cedric The Entertainer and Jamie Foxx.

"Nelly was invited to Essence. He's skipping that and bringing the party here instead," said Amit Dhawan, with Synergy Productions, the company promoting the corporate-sponsored event.

Dhawan said others stars, including Usher and producer JD, are expected at Dreams night club party tonight while the city holds its annual Fair St. Louis.

Publicist Wendy Washington said Nelly is extremely committed to his hometown and is actively trying to help it become a "cool destination where celebrities can hang out and chill."

Nelly and Jackson recently released the single "Call On Me." Nelly will also be a part of the Black American Softball Association's tournament this weekend in St. Louis.

This is the first year of what could be a July 4 tradition of the little-publicized black tie affair. Dhawan said St. Louis could be recognized as a premiere urban celebrity destination for the Independence Day weekend in the years to come, alongside the Essence Festival and hip-hop mogul Diddy's (Puff Daddy) party in the Hamptons.

"I hadn't even heard about it," said Nancy Milton, spokeswoman for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission.

"Whenever you can get A-list celebrities in town to have a good time, word gets around quickly and creates buzz," she said. "Nelly's name has certainly done that for St. Louis in the past few years."