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Little Rock, Ark., played host to the “Best of the South Gala,” an event celebrating Southern culture and art.

So who better to provide the entertainment than current American Idol, Kris Allen, a native of Conway, Ark.?

The Southern literary magazine The Oxford American hosted the Saturday event.

Among the honorees was Morgan Freeman, who received the magazine’s inaugural award for Outstanding Contributions to Southern Culture.

“True Grit” author Charles Portis received the magazine’s Lifetime Achievement in Southern Literature award.

Here are photos The Associated Press provided from the event.