At the 41st annual Kennedy Center Honors, Kelly Clarkson delivered a touching tribute that left both the audience and Reba McEntire deeply moved. The event, taped on December 2 at the historic venue in Washington, D.C., aired on CBS and showcased a night of unforgettable performances—and Clarkson’s was among the most powerful.
Before singing Reba’s 1990 hit “Fancy”, Kelly took a moment to express just how much the country icon means to her.
“I’ve been a fan of Reba since I was a little girl,” Clarkson said, holding back tears. “Her voice has always felt like home to me. Her tone, her storytelling—it’s timeless.”
With a smile, she added, “I love you so much. I hope you enjoy this—don’t judge me!”
Then came the performance—and it was nothing short of incredible. Clarkson’s powerhouse vocals and emotional delivery brought new life to the country classic. The crowd was on their feet, and so was Reba, who gave Kelly a heartfelt standing ovation. “Thank you,” Kelly said from the stage, “I hope I did you justice.”
Their bond goes beyond music. The two have shared the stage before, most memorably in 2007 when they teamed up for a duet of Clarkson’s “Because of You.” In 2008, they even hit the road together for a joint tour.
Their relationship became family when Kelly married Brandon Blackstock in 2013—Reba’s former stepson from her marriage to Narvel Blackstock. Though Reba and Narvel later divorced in 2015, she and Kelly have stayed close, with Reba maintaining a warm connection to the Clarkson-Blackstock kids.
“I don’t ever see the grandkids!” Reba joked in a past interview with PEOPLE. “Everyone’s just so busy. But I love them to pieces.”
Reba was honored alongside other legends that night, including Cher, Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter, and the creative team behind Hamilton, led by Lin-Manuel Miranda. But it was Kelly’s raw, emotional performance that reminded us just how deep the roots of country music—and chosen family—can run.
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