Painting Sheridan Purple:
When Prince Brought Hollywood Glam to Wyoming
Frontier history is woven into the fabric of Sheridan’s identity. Reminders of a hardscrabble, bygone era are found etched into the wall of historic buildings, whispered about along century-old mountain trails, and recounted at interpretive sites from the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument to Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site.
Sheridan County has played host, sometimes unwillingly, often unwittingly, to cadres of nefarious and notorious outlaws like Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Big Nose George, and even the outlaw Jesse James. Icons, too, have staked claims at the base of the Bighorn Mountains, with the most celebrated of all being none other than William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Yet it is a little-known fact that Sheridan has also hosted some of history’s most iconic, storied, and celebrated individuals, including none other than the pop icon Prince.
In the summer of 1986, the quiet Western town of Sheridan, Wyoming found itself at the center of an unforgettable brush with pop royalty. At the height of his fame, Prince—enigmatic, electric, and one of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century—descended on Sheridan not for a secret retreat or spontaneous road trip, but because of a contest. One lucky MTV viewer won a date with Prince, and the prize included a private premiere of his new film Under the Cherry Moon. The winner? A 20-year-old Sheridan resident. The result? A surreal, star-studded day that remains one of the town’s most legendary moments.
How It All Started
In 1986, MTV launched a massive promotional campaign to build buzz for Prince’s directorial debut Under the Cherry Moon, a romantic black-and-white film set on the French Riviera. As part of the hype, the network created a contest promising “a date with Prince”—and the winner would receive a personal premiere party for the film hosted by the man himself.
Out of 10,000 entrants, the winner’s name was drawn. She was a hotel chambermaid in Sheridan at the time; with no idea her life was about to be turned upside down. Within days, MTV crews, Hollywood stylists, and the Purple One’s entourage descended on the unassuming Wyoming town, bringing with them the dazzle of celebrity and the eyes of the world.
The Premiere at the Centennial Theater
On July 1, 1986, Sheridan’s Centennial Theater became an unlikely epicenter of Hollywood glamour. Normally a modest cinema for weekend moviegoers, the venue was transformed into a red-carpet showcase complete with searchlights, velvet ropes, and hundreds of onlookers who couldn’t believe what was happening in their quiet town.
Sheridan’s contest winner, dressed in a glamorous gown, arrived by limousine alongside Prince, who wore white tails and a ruffled shirt—looking as if he had stepped straight out of the film. The couple was escorted into the theater to roaring cheers and flashing cameras. Inside, over 800 guests—including Prince’s co-stars Jerome Benton and Kristin Scott Thomas, along with members of The Revolution—took their seats to watch Under the Cherry Moon premiere for the very first time.
While the film itself was met with mixed reviews nationally, that night in Sheridan, it didn’t matter. The Centennial was more than a movie theater—it was a portal to something magical. For a few hours, Sheridan residents were part of a fairy tale, seated just a few rows away from Prince himself as he shared his cinematic vision for the first time.
The Concert at the Holiday Inn
But the night wasn’t over. In what would become one of the most legendary live music events in Wyoming history, Prince and The Revolution played a private concert for a few hundred guests at the Holiday Inn. The performance, held in the hotel’s ballroom, is the stuff of myth: Prince, one of the biggest superstars on the planet, performing for an intimate, select audience on a humble stage usually reserved for wedding DJs and business conferences.
The setlist featured Raspberry Beret; Delirious; Controversy; Mutiny; Do Me, Baby; and Purple Rain, along with a few funk-heavy jams and new tracks from Under the Cherry Moon. Attendees remember how close they were to the band—how it felt like a private funk sermon. Prince danced, shredded on guitar, and brought the same energy he delivered to stadiums, as if Sheridan was the center of the universe for one night.
MTV filmed the entire event, later airing a special titled Prince: Under the Cherry Moon – An MTV Movie Special, capturing the fairy-tale moment, the surreal glamor of the premiere, and the unforgettable energy of that Holiday Inn show.
Sheridan’s Fifteen Minutes
For the people of Sheridan, that July day became an indelible chapter in town history. Newspapers across the country covered it. Locals still talk about where they were when they saw the limos roll by or how they glimpsed Prince walking down Main Street. Businesses hung “Welcome Prince” signs, the Centennial marquee spelled out his name, and for once, the rodeo wasn’t the most talked-about event of the summer.
In the years since, Sheridan has embraced this quirky moment with pride. For those who were there, the connection to Prince remains unforgettable. Fans occasionally make pilgrimages to Sheridan just to see the sites where he walked, danced, and played. The contest winner, though largely private, is remembered fondly as the woman who brought Prince to town—not with fame or fortune, but with luck and a contest entry form.
A Moment That Still Shines
Prince never returned to Sheridan after 1986, but his visit left a legacy far bigger than a concert or film screening. For a small Western town, it was a magical interruption of daily life—a glamorous, joyful collision between Hollywood excess and small-town sincerity.
It also revealed something about Prince himself. Amidst the spectacle, he was gracious, warm, and generous with his time. He didn’t just show up and leave; he gave the town a performance, a red carpet, and a memory that would last for decades.
In a world where celebrity encounters often feel staged or transactional, Prince’s trip to Sheridan stands out as something strangely pure—a prize, a party, a performance, and a slice of pop history that feels like a dream come true.
Celebrating Prince’s Legacy in Sheridan
To mark the 40 year anniversary of Prince’s visit to Sheridan, we have partnered with local restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops to launch Prince-inspired mocktails and desserts (famously, Prince was known to abstain from alcohol) – ask for the Prince specials at Frackelton’s / The Mint Bar / Java Moon Station / Ucross Foundation / and Le Rêve Restaurant & Raw Bar – and a special thanks to each of these partners for putting so much thought, energy, and creativity into this program!
Special Video Features
Click through the links below to check out each of our partner’s special features.
Shawn Parker | Sheridan County Travel & Tourism | September 9, 2025
