Wynonna’s Texas-Size Solo

The Scene: A Thursday-night reception following Wynonna Judd’s debut solo performance in Los Angeles. The country singer is on her first solo tour since her mother, Naomi Judd, retired for health reasons. After the sold-out concert, a couple of hundred guests gathered in an area outside the Universal Amphitheater for an al fresco buffet supper.

Who Was There: Naomi Judd and Wynonna’s sister Ashley; singers Dwight Yoakam and Melissa Etheridge; actors Delta Burke, Bruce Davison and Nancy Stafford; MCA/Nashville President Bruce Hinton; MCA Music Chairman Al Teller, and Curb/MCA head Mike Curb.

Dress Code: Big was the word of the night. Big Stetsons. Big belt buckles. And, for the women, Texas-style hair, inspired by Wynonna’s own waterfall of tresses.

Fashion Statement: Wynonna wore a black pantsuit and knee-high boots, while her mother was in white with a silver crucifix necklace. Delta Burke (who plays an aspiring country singer in her new fall TV series) is now a platinum blond.

Chow: Do-it-yourself burritos, black bean salad, wild rice salad empanadas and corn bread, catered by Rococo. There was also an innovation: the dessert taco. One table held tortilla shells covered with cinnamon and sugar, and guests filled them with papayas, berries and flan.

Money Matters: The party was free to invited guests, but those who needed tangible souvenirs could buy items, including a color photo of Wynonna for $3 or an official T-shirt for $30 at the concert. (“Sixteen bucks for a CD?” yelled one outraged man.)

Pastimes: Trying to separate the condo-dwelling city cowboys from the genuine articles. Trying to get yourself photographed with Wynonna at the party. And, for the women, waiting forever in the interminable bathroom lines. (It begs the question--are all bathroom designers men?)

Quoted: “I don’t know much about it,” said Wynonna, when asked about the controversy over rapper Ice-T’s song “Cop Killer.” “People are free to express themselves as artists, but I try to make music for grandmas and kids and everybody. In this dark day, musicians should provide the light. I think it’s real sad when people take advantage. I hear songs like that, and I think, ‘Honestly, where’s that guy’s mother?’ ”

Fan Worship: Midway through the concert, a smitten fan pulled off his belt and gave it to Wynonna. “That was weird,” she said, “but I get some really weird things. Just last week some kid tried to give me his cotton candy that he’d been sucking on.”

Glitches: Despite the fact that it was sponsored by MCA, there was no music, country or otherwise, at the party.