"It's a gala, and it's in the evening. It has to be something formal," Lee, 58, exclusively tells Parade of how she decided on her look. "Not too sexy. It's a women's event. Don't wear too sexy at a women's event."
Lee tells Parade that she ultimately decided on wearing a dress she wore to the CMAs years ago; however, she restyled the long gown into a cocktail dress for the big occasion. (See how the dress looks before and after below.)
Carolyn Smith Bryant and Sandra Lee before attending the CMAsCourtesy of Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee before the Women Making History Awards GalaCourtesy of Sandra Lee
The event, which took place on Thursday, March 20, at The Anthem in Washington D.C., honors women who have "made major contributions to their fields, worked for equality, and championed women’s representation." Lee herself was honored in 2019, and this year's honorees include Sara Blakely, Dr. Opal Lee, Shirley Ryan and brand Mattel.
"There's a lot of women that are honored this year, but we have some really special things this year," Lee, who serves as host of Netflix's Blue Ribbon Baking Championship and Roku's Dinner Budget Showdown, tells Parade. "Dr. Opal Lee, [she wrote] Juneteenth: A Children's Story Special Edition. And Meryl Streep is actually the gala chair this year. I haven't been back since I received it in 2019, so it's really exciting. When I started the UNICEF board in Los Angeles with my two girlfriends, Mattel was one of our first honorees. So to have them there, it's gonna be a really great event. All the women they honor every single year are amazing."
Courtesy of Sandra Lee
The Emmy winner goes on to tell Parade she feels that continuing to lift up the next generation is a responsibility she takes seriously as she gets older — especially during Women's History Month in March.
"That's something that Julia Child does. That's something Martha Stewart does," Lee explains. "In fact, when I put together the Julia Child exhibit at the Smithsonian, I was one of 50, I believe, that was chosen as the most impactful in the culinary arts in the last 50 years. So my picture hangs there at the Smithsonian."
Sandra Lee attends National Women's History Museum's 2025 Women Making History Awards Gala at The Anthem on The Wharf on March 20 in Washington, DC.Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Lee, who sits on the White House Historical Association National Council, also tells Parade all about her plans while she's in the D.C. area.
In addition to her continued advocacy, Lee is one of the world’s most popular home-life personalities, with 27 bestselling books and more than a dozen highly rated programs broadcast on ABC, NBC, Fox, HBO and Discovery’s network of channels, airing in 63 countries worldwide.
Related: Sandra Lee Documentary Rx: Early Detection Follows the Food Network Chef's Breast Cancer Journey
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Sandra Lee Rewears — and Restyles — CMAs Look for Big Night Out: Photos (Exclusive) )
Also on site :