Inaugural Revelers Given The 'Boot' At Texas State Society Black Tie Presidential Ball

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The undeniable leviathan of all of the state society balls, the Texas State Society of Washington, D.C.'s signature Black Tie & Boots quadrennial affair took over the sprawling complex at the Gaylord National Resort on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Granting guests access to a vast entertainment program that featured some of the biggest names in Texan entertainment, the Presidential inaugural ball drew some 15,000+ attendees over the course of the weekend.

The festivities kicked-off for VIPs and the state's most ardent supporters on Friday night, with a private dinner that afforded attendees the chance to celebrate in a more intimate setting.

However, the gathering also handily set the tone for the occasion's main event, which began at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday with a red carpet reception and stretched all the way into early Sunday morning.

In true "everything's bigger in Texas" style, the celebration spanned some five stages across four different rooms, with two ballrooms boasting appropriately established "Chisholm & Shawnee Trails" and "Yellow Rose of Texas" themes.

Musical performers counted everyone from the John Slaughter Band to Bonnie Bishop to Philip Griffin to David Grace to Josh Abbott.

And crowds were kept entertained in between sets by live performances from the Lake Highlands Wildcat Wranglers and Kilgore Rangerettes.

While it was impossible to match the level of celebrity notoriety that President George W. Bush and his family drew when they attended the 2001 and 2005 Black Tie & Boots balls, the guest list to this year's blowout bash was still nevertheless quite impressive with everyone from Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx to Senator John Cornyn to Congressman Kevin Brady to Congressman Roger Williams to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee all stopping by.

The Lone Star State clearly counts many friends.