Cindy Crawford, Shemekia Copeland to present Fifth Star Awards

A supermodel, a comedy icon, a blues queen and rising Broadway star will take the stage at Millennium Park next month to present Fifth Star Awards to local arts heroes.

At the free event, Sept. 14 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cindy Crawford will do the honors for Victor Skrebneski, the photographer she credits for launching her career, and “Waiting for Guffman” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” actor Fred Willard will honor the Second City, the theater where he did some of his early performing.

Also in the lineup: singer Shemekia Copeland, presenting the prize to Buddy Guy, the bluesman she has said is “like a second father,” and Broadway talent Chester Gregory, honoring Jackie Taylor of Black Ensemble Theatre, home of his breakout show, “The Jackie Wilson Story.”

A presenter will be announced later for the fifth honoree, National Museum of Mexican Art founder Carlos Tortolero.

The hip-hop duo the Q Brothers will host the ceremony and perform along with Guy King, Sones de México Ensemble and cast members from the Second City and Black Ensemble Theater.

This is the third round of Fifth Star Awards, created to celebrate Chicago’s creativity and recognize institutions and individuals who have made significant contributions in arts and culture.