The star of Broadway's Hello, Dolly! and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes will be honored with the annual award at a star-studded gala in the Bellagio Ballroom at Bellagio on Jan. 18. The presentation of the award, which will include a musical tribute to the star by many of her celebrity friends, is part of the annual Black & White Ball presented by the Nevada Ballet Theatre. Previous "Woman of the Year" honorees include Chita Rivera, Debbie Reynolds and Phyllis McGuire. One of the true legends of the American musical theatre, Carol Channing recently published her autobiography — "Just Lucky I Guess: A Memoir of Sorts" — on the Simon & Schuster label. In addition to her many triumphs — including her Tony for Hello, Dolly! and her Academy Award nomination for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" — Channing's tome also details some of the obstacles she endured, including her long-term food addictions, her battle with cancer and her first marriage to a struggling novelist, Ted Naidish.

The Black & White Ball will feature a four-course dinner, dancing to a full orchestra, the celebrity tribute to Channing and a performance by NBT dancers Kyu Dong Kwak and Natalia Chapourskaya. For more information or for tickets, call (702) 243-2623 ext. 230. The Nevada Ballet Theatre is located on the web at www.nevadaballet.com.